Investigative Case Highlights

Internal derangement and rotator cuff tears of the right and left shoulders, lumbosacral strain, and dorsal muscle strain of the back resulting from an injury — any medical doctor would declare this patient unable to perform labor-intensive work, especially that of a Postal Service employee. Add to that PTSD, depression, and chronic pain stemming from the injury and it’s a case the Office of Workers’ Compensation would approve for compensation benefits in a heartbeat.

When the theft of a $14,000 IRS refund check from the mail triggered an investigation, what our special agents uncovered would be the first clue that would unravel a criminal network exploiting one of the country’s most trusted government agencies: the U.S. Postal Service.

With the rise of online health and wellness companies offering concierge services and treatments (think GLP-1s), compounded medications are in the spotlight. These custom medications rely on pharmacists and doctors collaborating to create formulas that meet individual patients’ needs.

A complaint to our OIG Hotline alleged checks mailed to businesses in New York City’s financial district were never delivered and were instead negotiated by unknown third parties. Our data analytics showed the complaint wasn’t an isolated incident; in fact, there were many similar complaints for that area. Partnering with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, FBI, and NYPD, our special agents found a suspect: a mail handler at a post office in the district.

Our Data Analytics team develops cutting-edge tools our Office of Investigations uses to proactively identify postal crime. Leveraging data analytics and more recently AI, these tools help special agents pinpoint when and where crimes are happening in the postal system. This investigation is a prime example.