Two Former Postal Workers Sentenced for Theft of U.S. Treasury Checks Valued at More Than $4 Million from Kennedy Airport Mail Facility

Earlier today, Kevaughn Wellington and Ky-Mani Straker, each former United States Postal Service (USPS) employees, were sentenced by United States District Judge Diane Gujarati to prison for their participation in a fraudulent scheme through which they sold, for their own financial gain, United States Treasury checks issued by the United States Department of the Treasury. Wellington and others stole the Treasury checks from the USPS mail facility located at John F. Kennedy International Airport (the JFK Mail Facility), where the defendants were previously employed.

Wellington was sentenced to 60 months' imprisonment and was ordered to forfeit $100,000, and Straker was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment and was ordered to forfeit $57,945.56. The defendants were further ordered to pay $405,696.98 in restitution. The defendants each previously pleaded guilty to stealing government funds and conspiring to steal government funds.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York (USPIS); Matthew M. Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge, United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office (USPS-OIG); Matt McCool, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, New York Field Office (USSS); Michael L.J. Carpenter, Special Agent in Charge, United States Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA); Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD); and Matt McCool, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, New York Field Office (USSS), announced the sentences.

"The former postal workers abused their positions of trust at the JFK Mail Facility to fraudulently obtain Treasury checks intended for the well-being of hard-working individuals to whom the funds were owed, and kept the proceeds for themselves," stated United States Attorney Nocella. "Our Office is committed to holding accountable individuals who use taxpayer funds to line their own pockets, and today they paid the price for their greed and disregard of the law."

"The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity throughout the Postal Service and its workforce. The special agents of the USPS OIG will vigorously investigate those who choose to steal U.S Mail and defraud the American public. The sentence imposed on the defendants will serve as a reminder that there are severe consequences when individuals commit crimes targeting the U.S Mail. The USPS OIG is thankful for the great longstanding relationships we have developed with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney's Office to combat mail theft," stated USPS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Modafferi.

"The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) aggressively investigates individuals who attempt to exploit U.S Treasury refund checks meant for hard working taxpayers for their own private gain," stated TIGTA Special Agent in Charge Carpenter. "TIGTA's mission is to protect the integrity of our nation's tax administration system. We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who violate federal laws are prosecuted to the fullest extent possible."

"These defendants undermined the public's trust in our mail system by stealing more than $4 million in Treasury checks meant for people who were expecting those funds," stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. "We rely on the integrity of the postal network, and today's sentencing holds these fraudsters accountable for their illegal and selfish acts. Because of the work of our investigators, law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, we have dismantled this fraudulent operation."

"The defendants' brazen selfishness not only violated the public trust, but directly harmed the citizens they were supposed to serve by illegally siphoning funds -- resources those people were relying on -- for their own personal gain," stated USSS Special Agent in Charge McCool. "The U.S. Secret Service is committed to preserving this nation's financial integrity and was proud to have had a role in holding these defendants accountable. I commend the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the New York Police Department, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York and our many other law enforcement partners for bringing justice in this case."

From approximately June 2021 through August 2023, the defendants engaged in a scheme to steal and sell Treasury checks mailed for distribution through the JFK Mail Facility. Wellington, who was employed at the facility as a mail clerk, worked with others to steal parcels containing Treasury checks. Then, together with Straker and others, Wellington sold the stolen Treasury checks for a portion of the face value of each check. As part of the scheme, Wellington stole-and conspired with Straker to sell-over 125 Treasury checks valued at more than $4 million, including checks intended to be individuals' Social Security benefits, COVID relief and tax refunds. In addition to selling stolen Treasury checks, Straker falsely endorsed and deposited stolen Treasury checks into a bank account and withdrew the proceeds for his own financial gain. Law enforcement uncovered over 350 videos and images from Wellington's phone depicting Treasury checks that were not addressed to him or Straker.

The government's case is being handled by the Office's Organized Crime and Gangs and General Crimes Sections. Assistant United States Attorney Elias Laris in in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendants:

KEVAUGHN WELLINGTON Age: 33 Jamaica, New York
KY-MANI STRAKER Age: 26 Orange, New Jersey

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-275 (DG)