Former USPS Mail Carrier Sentenced To 39 Months In Prison For Mail Theft And Fraud Scheme

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that Tameka Babulal, a/k/a "Tameka Williams," a/k/a "Sharniece Williams," a/k/a "Meek Williams," a former United States Postal Service ("USPS") mail carrier assigned to Mount Vernon, New York, was sentenced to 39 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel for abusing her position as a mail carrier to steal checks, credit cards, financial mail, and personal identifying information from victims on her mail route, and using that stolen mail and information to commit fraud and aggravated identity theft. The sentence imposed by Judge Seibel included 15 months on BABULAL's mail theft, fraud, and false statement offenses, followed by a mandatory consecutive 24-month sentence for aggravated identity theft.

"Postal workers are entrusted with some of the most sensitive materials Americans send and receive: checks, credit cards, tax documents, Social Security information, and financial mail," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "Tameka Babulal betrayed that trust by stealing from the very people on the mail routes she was paid to serve and then using their mail and identities to commit fraud. Today's sentence makes clear that those who corrupt the mail system from within and exploit the public's trust for personal gain will be held accountable."

According to the allegations contained in the Indictment, public filings, and statements made in court proceedings:

From in or about December 2022 through May 23, 2024, BABULAL conspired with others in a scheme to possess, steal, and misuse mail stolen from the USPS in Mount Vernon, New York. BABULAL stole hundreds of mail items from hundreds of victims whose mail she touched, including checks, credit cards, financial mail, tax documents, Social Security cards, and other sensitive materials. She kept those items at the Hempstead, New York, residence she shared with her husband and co-conspirator, Joel Babulal. BABULAL's victims included elderly people in their 90s, young adults in their early 20s, business owners, churchgoers, military personnel, and other everyday people.

When law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Babulal residence on May 23, 2024, officers recovered, among other things, dozens of checks, treasury checks, and money orders in victims' names, including blank or washed checks; 51 credit cards in other people's names; unopened financial mail appearing to contain credit cards or checks; several Social Security cards and tax documents in other people's names; bundles of unopened mail and packages; and a USPS postal bin filled with victims' undelivered mail.

Using the mail and other items she stole from victims on her mail route, BABULAL carried out an extensive credit card, check, and identity theft fraud scheme involving dozens of victims. BABULAL's credit card scheme involved at least around $40,922.41 in fraudulent transactions using stolen credit cards. Additionally, BABULAL's check fraud scheme involved $13,510 in fraudulent transactions using stolen checks, and her possession of an additional at least $78,705.05 in checks and money orders. To commit her crimes, BABULAL used various means of identification of her victims. For example, BABULAL and her co-conspirators used their victims' names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, addresses, and other identifying information to fraudulently open accounts, submit credit-card applications, activate payment cards, and attempt transactions.

The Government's investigation also revealed that BABULAL made false statements to obtain her USPS position. In her USPS employment application, she falsely claimed that she had previously worked at a Taco Bell restaurant under a supervisor named "Mark Khan." In fact, "Mark Khan" was not a real person, and both the name "Mark Khan" and the phone number she listed for him were used by BABULAL's husband and co-conspirator, Joel Babulal.

On March 18, 2026, BABULAL pled guilty before Judge Seibel to conspiracy to steal and unlawfully possess mail, theft of mail by a postal employee, unlawful possession of mail, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and false statements. BABULAL's husband, Joel Babulal, pled guilty to conspiring with his wife and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 14, 2026.

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In addition to the prison term, BABULAL, 38, of Hempstead, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the USPS, Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

This case is being handled by the Office's White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reyhan Watson, John Sarlitto, and James McMahon are in charge of the prosecution.