A federal judge in Boston has charged a former U.S. postal inspector with stealing over $330,000 through the mail.
Scott Kelly, 51, from Massachusetts, faces 45 counts related to taking cash from victim packages. Reports indicate he used the money for various personal expenses, including escorts, vacations, and home renovations, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The charges against him include multiple counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, theft by postal officers, government fund theft, money laundering, and filing false tax returns.
It is alleged that Kelly stole money from packages, sometimes spending significant sums on services and home improvements, including $15,400 for escort services, $30,188 for patio upgrades, and $4,300 for granite countertops.
Kelly previously served as a team leader in the mail fraud unit at the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, a body focused on investigating mail crimes. He also led the Postal Theft Unit between June 2022 and August 2023.
Prosecutors claim he directed another postal employee to seize a package containing flag paintings sent by victims of a fraudulent Jamaican business, which tricked people into believing they had won prizes.
Postal regulations typically prevent workers from opening flagged communications without the sender’s approval, allowing for the return of funds to victims.
Allegedly, Kelly instructed postal workers to route packages to him, possibly to avoid scrutiny regarding inspections. He is said to have asked for around 1,950 packages to be intercepted and even opened some that seemed to contain cash, which he then stole.
The victims were primarily elderly individuals. The indictment reveals that seven victims sent cash through the mail that Kelly is accused of intercepting. The average age of these victims is about 75, with the oldest being 82, and the amounts mailed ranged from $1,400 to $19,100. Kelly allegedly met one victim in person, claiming their loss was a mistake for mailing cash, and none of the victims have recovered their funds.
Kelly faces up to 20 years in prison for each fraud count, along with additional time for theft and tax-related offenses.
