A U.S. Postal Service employee from East Hartford admitted in federal court to stealing more than $250,000 by issuing fraudulent postal money orders. According to a statement from David X. Sullivan, Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General for the Northeast Area Field Office, Miguel Cruz Quiles, 34, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport.
Court records show that Cruz Quiles began working for the USPS in 2012 in several roles including window clerk and human resources safety clerk. In 2024, he used another employee's authorization credentials to access the USPS computer system at service counters at both the Blue Hills Post Office in Hartford and Bishops Corner Post Office in West Hartford. He issued himself over 250 fraudulent money orders—most for $1,000 each—some while the service counters were closed to the public.
Cruz Quiles then cashed or deposited these funds into his own accounts. On December 9, 2024 alone, he issued himself thirty money orders totaling $30,000.
He pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government property and admitted to unlawfully cashing or depositing at least $250,320 belonging to the government.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 15; Cruz Quiles faces up to ten years in prison and is currently released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing.
"This investigation has been conducted by the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General," according to officials. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen.
