Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Ex-mail carrier gets 3 years for drug smuggling
The woman was caught trying to bring narcotics from Mexico
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.
Milestones
Appointments, awards and retirements
Here’s a look at recent USPS announcements
• Brandi S. Chappell was named logistics network implementation director. She previously served as logistics strategic initiative project specialist.
• Jeanette I. Cook, human resources technology application services compensation and benefits manager, will retire Nov. 30 after 34 years with the Postal Service.
• Lisse A. Garrett, Iowa-Nebraska-South Dakota District manager, was named Florida 3 District’s acting manager.
• Robert S. Hanlon, sorting and delivery center planning implementation director, was named Post Office operations acting director.
• Victor H. Leon Jr. was named the Billings, MT, Processing and Distribution Center’s plant manager. He previously served as Western Division’s operations support manager.
• Karen B. Meehan was named mailing and services pricing director. She previously served as the international pricing and financial reporting director, a role now held by Samie U. Rehman, who previously served as mailing and services pricing director.
• Austin A. Raney was named insights and improvement executive manager. He previously served as distribution services manager.
• Tracy R. Raymond, retail operations director, retired Oct. 31 after 36 years with the Postal Service. Cathleen C. Lujan, retail and Post Office operations support manager, was named retail operations acting director. She previously served as Post Office operations acting director.
• Justin K. Zhu was named technology acquisitions director in the chief information officer’s organization. He previously served as technology acquisitions manager.
Got news to share? Email Link.
Mail
Stamp of approval
A reader is impressed with a letter carrier’s stamp map
Email us your feedback. Your comments could be included in our “Mail” column.
Automatic reboots for ACE computers begin in February
The Postal Service will begin automatically rebooting ACE computers that have not been rebooted for more than seven days or that have been disconnected from the USPS network, beginning in February 2026.
Regular reboots keep computers functioning at optimal levels, protect against security vulnerabilities and ensure software updates are installed without delay.
Employees and contractors will receive an onscreen notification before an automatic reboot takes place and will have the option to postpone it up to 24 hours.
The USPS ServiceNow website has more information about how to reboot an ACE computer.
View past printouts
Printout details
What's included
-
Ex-mail carrier gets 3 years for drug smuggling
-
Milestones
Appointments, awards and retirements
Here’s a look at recent USPS announcements
-
Mail
Featured reader quote
“I love the stamp map created by Ryan Troy, an Olympia, WA, letter carrier. I’d love to see a breakdown of each stamp by state.”
— Leigh Juskevice, Freedom, ME
-
Brief
Automatic reboots for ACE computers begin in February