Investigative News Releases

Working with our Law Enforcement Partners

Our special agents investigate nationwide internal crimes and fraud committed by postal employees and contractors as well as postal employee misconduct. We work with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and local prosecutors across the country to prosecute these crimes.

In some instances, we uncover much larger criminal activity being carried out by multiple individuals and organizations. In many of these cases, we partner with other federal and local law enforcement agencies to identify and hold responsible those who take advantage of the public’s trust in our postal system.

Below are links to the most recent news releases about our work.

USPS Letter Carrier Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Diverting and Delivering Packages of Drugs

Date Released: 05/09/2018

A Richmond Heights man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for receiving more than four pounds of methamphetamine from California, and a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier was sentenced to more than eight years in prison for diverting packages of drugs and delivering them to him. Devon Williams, 24, of Richmond Heights, was sentenced to 180 months in prison. Marquacia Deshawn Morris, 27, of Woodmere, was sentenced to 97 months in prison. Kevin Williams, 24, of Richmond Heights and Devon Williams...

Marion County Woman Admits to Taking Mail, Ordered to Pay Back Victim

Date Released: 05/08/2018

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Rochelle Pernell, of Fairmont, West Virginia, has admitted to obstructing mail, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced. Pernell, age 32, pled guilty to one count of “Obstruction of Mails.” Pernell admitted to taking a $500 Visa gift card after it was deposited for mail and before it was delivered to its intended recipient. The crime occurred January 27, 2017 in Marion County. Pernell was sentenced to 12 months’ probation and ordered to pay $790.00 in restitution...

Former Postal Service Employee Sentenced for Embezzlement

Date Released: 04/25/2018

BOSTON – A former postal employee was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for embezzling over $22,000 from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Dennis Reis, 37, of Taunton, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to two years of probation, with the first six months to be served in home confinement, and ordered to pay restitution of $22,773. In January 2018, Reis pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and theft of public money, property or records. United States...

Former Postal Employee Sentenced for Failing to Deliver Mail

Date Released: 04/23/2018

BOSTON – A former Fitchburg postal employee was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for failing to deliver mail. Stephen Lehto, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy to two years of probation. In January 2018, Lehto pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of obstruction of mails. While working as a postal carrier for the United States Postal Service in Fitchburg between June 2016 and January 2017, Lehto began taking mail home instead of delivering it...

Lance Armstrong Agrees to Pay $5 Million to Settle False Claims Allegations

Date Released: 04/19/2018

WASHINGTON – Former professional cyclist Lance Armstrong agreed to pay the United States $5 million to resolve a lawsuit alleging that his admitted use of performance-enhancing drugs and methods (“PEDs”) resulted in the submission of millions of dollars in false claims for sponsorship payments to the U.S. Postal Service (“USPS”), which sponsored Armstrong’s cycling team during six of the seven years Armstrong appeared to have won the Tour de France, the Department of Justice announced today....