ROCHESTER, NY – Ralph Minni, 54, a former manager at the Greece Post Office, has confessed to a brazen scheme to steal drugs from the mail and illegally possess a frightening arsenal of weapons. Minni pleaded guilty Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance.
For over three years, between May 2018 and May 2, 2022, Minni exploited his position of trust, intercepting packages containing controlled substances – including marijuana – and diverting them to his private office. Instead of delivering the mail, he pilfered the contents, then resealed the empty packages, sending them back into the system as if nothing had happened. The stolen narcotics were then transported to his residence for storage and redistribution, authorities say.
The depravity didn’t stop there. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean C. Eldridge revealed that Minni openly distributed cocaine to a coworker on three separate occasions in March and April of 2022, watching as the coworker snorted the drug directly off his office desk. This blatant disregard for the law and basic decency ultimately led to his downfall.
On May 2, 2022, federal agents executed a search warrant at Minni’s home, uncovering a disturbing cache of illegal items: approximately 700 grams of cocaine, a substantial amount of marijuana, and a staggering 40 firearms, accompanied by over 19,000 rounds of ammunition. Minni was arrested that same day while leaving the Greece Post Office, with officers discovering additional marijuana in his vehicle – more stolen goods intended for sale.
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The Greece Police Department and New York State Police also provided crucial assistance. The combined resources of these agencies brought Minni’s criminal enterprise to light.
Minni now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, with a potential maximum of 40 years behind bars and a $5,000,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for August 13, 2024, at 9:15 a.m. before Judge Siragusa. This case serves as a stark reminder that abusing a position of trust for personal gain will be met with swift and severe consequences.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Press Release
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