Postal Employee Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Checks from Mail Following HSI New York Investigation

Defendant allegedly remotely deposited more than $6,000 in checks stolen from the mail into his bank account while working as mail handler

NEW YORK — A Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York investigation, in coordination with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Postal Service Office (USPS) of Inspector General’s Northeast Area field office, resulted in the June 5 arrest of Dendrick Emery. Emery, 42, of Brooklyn, is accused of grand larceny and other charges for allegedly stealing checks from the mail stream and remotely depositing them into his bank account during work shifts at the Suffolk County branch of the U.S. Postal Service.

“Today’s arrest of a U.S. Postal Service employee is the result of law enforcement’s commitment to root out corruption and protect Long Islanders from criminal opportunists willing to jeopardize the public’s wellbeing for their own financial gain,” said HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo. “HSI New York’s Long Island office is proud to stand alongside our partners in securing justice on behalf of our community.”

According to the investigation, between Feb. 3, 2023, and May 4, 2023, Emery, while employed as a mail handler, allegedly stole over $6,000 in checks from the U.S. mail and remotely deposited the funds into his personal bank account.

Through their collaborative relationship, Transnational Crime Task Force personnel from HSI New York's Long Island office and the USPA Office of Inspector General (OIG) developed an investigative lead pertaining to the defendant's alleged mishandling of the public's mail. On June 5, Emery was arrested by investigators from HSI New York, the Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

Emery was arraigned on one count of grand larceny in the third degree, one count of criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, and one count of official misconduct.

“The reliability of the mail service is an important part of our quality of life, and I am dedicated to doing my part to protect it,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney. “I want to thank the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General for its hard work and cooperation in this case.”

“The special agents of the USPS OIG will vigorously investigate Postal Service employees who compromise their integrity for personal gain. This does not represent the work of the many trustworthy U.S. Postal Service employees who continue to do their job every day,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi of the OIG’s Northeast Area field office. “The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General would like to thank our law enforcement partners and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for their dedication and efforts in this investigation.”