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.

Former Postal Employee Sentenced for Theft of Money Orders

Date Released: 08/26/2021

BANGOR, Maine: A Penobscot County woman was sentenced today in federal court for the theft and conversion of money orders, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced. U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Mellony Hafford, 37, to three years of probation. Hafford was also ordered to pay $4,177 in restitution to the U.S. Postal Service. She pleaded guilty in April 2021. The U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax...

Two Plead Guilty in Federal Court to Bank and Mail Fraud Conspiracy and Related Charges

Date Released: 08/25/2021

Baltimore, Maryland – Two Nigerian nationals, Johnson B. Ogunlana, age 25, of Edgewood, Maryland, and Samson A. Oguntuyi, age 29, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty on the eve of trial to federal charges related to schemes to defraud financial institutions, retail establishments and other business victims, often using the stolen personal information of individual victims. Specifically, Ogunlana pleaded guilty on August 23, 2021 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and mail fraud, access device...

Postal Worker Pleads Guilty to Mail Theft

Date Released: 08/05/2021

BOSTON – A former U.S. Postal Service mail carrier pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to stealing mail containing gift cards. Brian Thibodeau, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of mail by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf scheduled sentencing for Dec. 13, 2021. Thibodeau was indicted on Feb. 10, 2021. Beginning in 2001, Thibodeau worked as a letter carrier in the Saugus Post Office. In 2020, Thibodeau stole customers’ gift...

Mail Carrier Sentenced for Attempted Election Fraud

Date Released: 06/21/2021

ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Thomas Cooper, a mail carrier in Pendleton County, was sentenced today to five years of probation, with the first six months home confinement, for attempted election fraud, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced. Cooper, age 48, of Dry Fork, West Virginia, pled guilty in July 2020 to one count of “Attempt to Defraud the Residents of West Virginia of a Fair Election” and one count of “Injury to the Mail.” Cooper held a U.S. Postal Service contract to deliver...

Operation Second Wave Update: Two More Defendants Sentenced to Federal Prison

Date Released: 06/09/2021

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Two defendants charged as a result of a long-term investigation known as “Second Wave” were sentenced this week to federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Larry Terrence Martin, 31, of St. Albans and Carol Lynn Belton, 62, of Montgomery were sentenced to 151 months and 15 months in prison, respectively. According to court documents, Martin previously admitted distributing more than 10 pounds of methamphetamine and 60 pounds of marijuana between January...