Leonard Gresham, Parcel Bribery, NJ 2024

Leonard Gresham, 50, of Rahway, New Jersey, has admitted to trafficking in corruption from behind the wheel of a government-issued postal van, taking $14,900 in cash bribes to reroute parcels packed with illegal narcotics. The former U.S. Postal Service mail carrier pleaded guilty today in Newark federal court to one count of accepting bribes, cashing in on his position to become a shadow courier for drug dealers.

Gresham, once trusted to deliver the mail without question, instead exploited his role at the USPS Springfield Station in Newark to intercept packages flagged for delivery—then diverted them to off-the-books drop points across the city. From October 2014 through September 2017, he personally delivered parcels containing drugs to locations other than the listed recipient addresses, all for payments ranging from $50 to $200 per handoff.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito laid out the betrayal: Gresham didn’t just turn a blind eye—he actively colluded with two individuals receiving drug-laced packages, ensuring the contraband never reached its intended destination through lawful channels. Each delivery was a calculated breach of duty, lining his pockets while feeding the underground drug trade in Essex County.

The guilty plea, entered before U.S. District Judge Esther D. Salas, carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000—or twice the gross gain from the offense. Gresham was released on a $50,000 unsecured bond. Sentencing is scheduled for May 30, 2018, when the full weight of his crimes will be measured by the court.

The investigation was led by special agents of the USPS Office of Inspector General, under Special Agent in Charge Eileen Neff, Northeast Area Field Office, with support from inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, directed by Acting Inspector in Charge Ruth M. Mendonca. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jihee G. Suh of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.

Gresham’s defense was handled by David Holman, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender in Newark. Once a public servant, now a convicted criminal, Gresham’s fall reveals how easily trust can be weaponized from within the system.