Kevin Hood, Bribes for Contracts, Cleveland OH, 2023

Grimy Times Exclusive: Kevin Hood, the 45-year-old manager of the U.S. Postal Service’s Vehicle Maintenance Facility in Cleveland, has been charged with taking cash bribes in exchange for awarding business and contracts from the Postal Service.

Hood, who was arrested Thursday, faces charges of wire fraud and honest services wire fraud. United States Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach and Special Agent Monica Weyler of the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General Eastern Area Field Office announced the charges.

Dettelbach warned that accepting bribes remains unacceptable in Northeast Ohio, vowing to continue efforts to combat public corruption. Weyler highlighted the severity of the crime, noting Hood’s promotion despite the previous manager’s conviction on similar charges.

Hood, who joined the Postal Service in 1998, had the power to award and monitor contracts. A business owner claimed Hood approached him for money to obtain work from the Postal Service. The owner said he paid Hood between $15,000 and $17,000 and provided up to $8,000 in free labor on Hood’s personal vehicles.

On March 6, the owner recorded a payment of $4,500 in cash from Hood, who placed the money in his boot. The transaction was monitored by USPS special agents.

A charge is not evidence of guilt. If convicted, Hood’s sentence will be determined by the court after considering factors unique to this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Miranda Dugi and Antoinette T. Bacon are prosecuting the case, following an investigation by the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.