Queens, New York – In a shocking case of corruption, three postal workers have been charged with a bribery scheme and theft of mail linked to Covid-19 benefits fraud.
According to the indictment, Oscar Abreu, Rafael Grullon, and Aldo Palomino, Jr. accepted bribes and stole hundreds of pieces of mail, abusing the public trust placed in them as employees of the U.S. Postal Service and enabling the perpetration of a multi-million-dollar scheme to obtain fraudulent COVID-19 unemployment benefits.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said, ‘As alleged, the defendants accepted bribes and stole hundreds of pieces of mail, abusing the public trust placed in them as employees of the U.S. Postal Service and enabling the perpetration of a multi-million-dollar scheme to obtain fraudulent COVID-19 unemployment benefits.’
USPIS Inspector in Charge Daniel B. Brubaker added, ‘It is a sad day when postal employees allegedly aid other conspirators to commit identify theft. Their actions affected hundreds of innocent victims by enabling their fellow criminals to illegally receive Covid-19 unemployment benefits through the U.S Mail.’
The defendants, who were arrested on April 6, 2024, in Queens, New York, were presented before Magistrate Judge Paul E. Davison. Abreu was arrested the previous day in White Plains, New York.
The exact charges against the defendants include bribery scheme and theft of mail linked to Covid-19 benefits fraud.
As of now, there is no sentence or outcome announced for the defendants, and the current status of their case is pending.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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