A former U.S. Postal Inspector has agreed to plead guilty on July 10 to charges of stealing over $330,000 in cash from packages mailed by elderly victims, laundering the money, and failing to report it to the Internal Revenue Service. Scott Kelley, 52, of Pembroke, Massachusetts, will plead guilty to 44 counts of a 45-count indictment that includes wire fraud, mail fraud, mail theft by a postal officer, money laundering, structuring to evade reporting requirements, and filing false tax returns.
According to federal prosecutors in Boston, Kelley was stationed at the Boston Division headquarters of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and became Team Leader of the Mail Fraud Unit in 2015. The indictment alleges that between January 2019 and August 11, 2023, Kelley used deceptive emails so unwitting postal employees would intercept packages flagged as likely sent by scam victims and forward them directly to him. Prosecutors say he requested approximately 1,950 packages be intercepted in this manner.
Kelley is accused of opening parcels that appeared or felt like they might contain cash and stealing any cash found inside. Seven identified victims were scammed into mailing cash ranging from $1,400 up to $19,100 per parcel; their average age was reported as 75 years old with one victim being as old as 82. One victim died after Kelley was indicted.
The indictment details how Kelley allegedly spent stolen funds on home improvements such as a pool patio and granite countertop for an outdoor bar area as well as lighting for his pool and bar area; he also reportedly paid for Caribbean cruise expenses and escorts using these funds.
If convicted on all counts charged—wire fraud (up to twenty years imprisonment per count), mail fraud (up to twenty years), theft of government money (up to ten years), money laundering (up to twenty years or twice the value involved), structuring (up five years), false tax returns (up three years)—Kelley faces significant penalties including prison time, supervised release periods, and fines up to hundreds of thousands of dollars per charge depending on statute guidelines applied by a federal district court judge.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley said, “The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Wichers and Eric L. Hawkins are prosecuting this case alongside investigators from both IRS Criminal Investigation Boston office, Office Professional Responsibility Technical Sensitive Operations Field Office, and USPS OIG.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts serves all state residents through enforcement of federal laws—including prosecutions related to national security threats and civil rights violations—and operates facilities at John Joseph Moakley United States Federal Courthouse with branch offices in Springfield and Worcester while employing more than two hundred attorneys, paralegals, and professional staff according to the official website.