Seven people, including one supervisor at a U.S. Postal Service processing center in Providence, are facing charges in connection with a mail theft ring that operated from early 2023 through the beginning of 2024, the office of U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha said Wednesday.
Cunha said the investigation began after customers in the mail processing center at 24 Corliss St. in Providence began reporting that mail was not delivered or delivered without its contents. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General was able to identify a group of employees, including a supervisor, who they say worked together to sort, separate, and conceal mail that they believed to contain cash, checks, or gift cards.
The mail was then taken surreptitiously from the center before the end of their shift by a member of the so-called “theft ring,” according to the Cunha’s office. The suspects allegedly gathered after their shifts ended and opened the stolen mail, sorting out gift cards, cash, and checks to distribute amongst themselves. During the course of the investigation, it is alleged that one defendant was caught with a backpack of stolen mail that included over $1.3 million worth of checks.
“The misuse of public employment for private gain is both a serious crime and profound breach of the public trust,” Cunha said in a statement. “The arrests and charges we announce today should send a clear message that those who engage in public corruption for personal gain will be held accountable.”
Charged in U.S. District Court in Providence with conspiracy to steal mail and theft of mail by a postal employee are Darren Camacho, 30, of Providence; Fernando Camacho, 28, of Providence; Willie Estrella, 31, of Providence; Ryan Lee, 43, of Cranston; Cyril Murray, 44, of Pawtucket (employed as a supervisor); Angel Rivera, 27, of Providence; and Andre Williams, 31, of North Providence.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie M. White.
The matter was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Providence Police Department, and Smithfield Police Department.
The public can report mail theft by contacting the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General hotline at 1-888-USPS-OIG (1-888-877-7644; online at www.uspsoig.gov/hotline ; via email at Hotline@uspsoig.gov; or by mail at USPS OIG, Attn: OIG Hotline, 1735 North Lynn Street, Arlington, VA 22209-2020.
Read more from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Rhode Island, here.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
In the last 2 months that processing center has lost 2 high value items. Both had a last known location at the Providence processing facility. One item was found after about 20 phone calls 3 separate lost item reports online, in which they told me my items were gone forever but my iPhone miraculously showed up after I started calling supervisors directly. The post office refuses to pay me my priority express refund even though they lost, being nice here, my package so it didn’t show up next day. The attitudes of the clerks in the particular USPS offices I went to were attitudes of complete indifference and I am gonna guess clerks are also tipping off other employees as to the contents of certain packages because they are being scanned at some offices. Anyway I hope all involved are caught and prosecuted.