NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Postal Service postmaster was arrested today on a federal civil rights violation for sexually assaulting a victim while acting under color of law and assaulting the victim, a federal employee, during the course of her official duties, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced.
Gabriel Ekram Pagabe Ali, 47, is charged by indictment with sexually assaulting the victim, an employee of the U.S. Postal Service while on duty as a postmaster at the U.S. Post Office in Teaneck.
According to the indictment:
On Nov. 26, 2022, in Teaneck, New Jersey, Ali deprived the victim of her right to bodily integrity when he sexually assaulted her. Count Two of the indictment charges Ali with forcibly assaulting the victim while she was engaged in official duties.
If convicted, Ali faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for the civil rights count and eight years in prison for the assault count.
The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi, is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Gribko and Javon Henry for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorneys Laura Gilson and Chloe Neely of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.