A former USPS mail carrier was sentenced to three years in federal prison recently for smuggling cocaine, fentanyl and heroin from Mexico into California.
When apprehended at the San Ysidro, CA, border crossing, the former carrier was dressed in her full postal uniform but driving a personal vehicle. A K-9 officer detected the scent of narcotics, which were hidden in a modified gasoline tank that was leaking fuel.
A total of 136 pounds of narcotics were seized.
A joint investigation by the USPS Office of Inspector General, also known as the OIG, and Homeland Security Investigations determined that the woman had intentionally exploited her position as a Postal Service employee to avoid detection.
The OIG recently highlighted the case on its website.
At the time the woman was caught, she had been on unpaid leave for more than three months. Evidence showed her crossing the border several times while wearing her USPS uniform or displaying Postal Service insignia.
The former employee pleaded guilty to two counts of bringing controlled substances into the United States and was sentenced to three years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.
At the time of her arrest, she had been with the organization just short of nine years.
If you suspect or know of mail theft involving Postal Service employees or contractors, report it to the OIG.
