Ex-Postal fraud investigator charged with stealing $330K from aged victims

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A former U.S. postal investigator who oversaw the fraud division has been charged with stealing more than $330,000 from packages mailed by victims and utilizing the cash for dwelling renovations, holidays and escorts, in accordance with the Justice Division.

Scott Kelley, 51, of Massachusetts , was charged in a 45-count indictment returned by a grand jury in Boston Friday with wire fraud, mail fraud, mail theft by a postal officer, theft of presidency cash, cash laundering, structuring to evade reporting necessities and submitting false tax returns.

After allegedly stealing money from packages, Kelley laundered it and used $15,400 to pay for sexual companies from two escorts, generally on workdays; $30,188 for a brand new swimming pool patio and lighting; a granite countertop for his outside bar; and $4,300 on a Caribbean cruise.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is the regulation enforcement arm of the Postal Service, and from 2015 till June 2022, Kelley labored because the workforce chief for its Mail Fraud Unit, which investigates scams of the very folks he allegedly focused.

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A former U.S. postal employee who oversaw the fraud division has been charged with stealing greater than $330,000 from packages mailed by victims and allegedly utilizing the cash for dwelling renovations, holidays and escorts, in accordance with the Justice Division. (Spencer Jones/GHI/UCG/Common Photographs Group through Getty Photographs)

He additionally labored as workforce chief of the Mail Theft Unit from June 2022 till August 2023.

Kelley allegedly despatched deceitful emails to unwitting postal workers between 2019 and 2023, telling them to intercept packages that have been decided to have been despatched by victims of a Jamaican rip-off that focused Individuals. The scammers claimed the victims wanted to ship cash to get lottery or sweepstakes winnings. Kelley advised the postal employees to ship the packages to him.

Postal employees have been licensed to intercept packages flagged as more likely to have been despatched by victims of a rip-off however weren’t allowed to open them with out the sender’s consent.

Scott Kelley's renovated swimming pool deck. (DOJ)

If it was opened, the postal employee was required to rely the money with one other employee current and mail the sender a examine for that quantity.

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Kelley is believed to have requested 1,950 packages be despatched to him, stealing the money inside, the DOJ stated.

Seven alleged victims with a mean age of 75 are recognized within the indictment. The oldest alleged sufferer was 82.

The victims mailed between $1,400 and $19,100 every to the scammers.

Kelley allegedly met with one of many victims, falsely telling that sufferer {that a} bundle wasn’t discovered and "that their loss was their very own fault as a result of that they had mailed money. Not one of the victims recovered their packages or their money," the DOJ stated.

Scott Kelley's renovated outside bar. (DOJ)

He's additionally accused of utilizing the important thing of one other postal inspector, who was a direct report back to him, stealing $7,000 from an proof locker and blaming the worker for the theft.

Kelley laundered the almost $340,000 in money by shopping for postal cash orders and hiding the truth that he was the purchaser and payee, and spreading out greater than 60 financial institution deposits by means of 4 financial institution accounts at two banks, the DOJ stated.

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He faces as much as 20 years in jail for every wire fraud, cash laundering and mail fraud cost, 5 years for every mail theft and structuring to evade reporting necessities cost, 10 years for theft of presidency cash and three years for every submitting false tax returns cost if discovered responsible.