It’s not uncommon for postal employees to supplement their income with a side job, and the vast majority know not to do it through illegal means. They know it’s not worth losing people’s trust, not to mention one’s livelihood, career, and possible pension. But every so often, a very few risk it all for fast, seemingly easy cash, as one mail carrier did.
In March 2021, using in-house specialized analytics, our special agents identified potential issues on a carrier route. On the surface, it was business as usual: the mail carrier was making deliveries to his assigned route. But our special agents looked deeper and joined forces with our federal and local law enforcement partners. The joint investigation revealed the carrier was scanning certain packages as delivered while pretending to deliver them at various residences along the route. At shift’s end, he smuggled the packages into his personal vehicle and carted them off elsewhere.
Why were there no complaints from expecting recipients? The parcels were never intended for them. And as the investigation broadened, our special agents intercepted packages in the mail that contained cocaine and other narcotics.