Latest news with #UnitedStatesPostalInspectionService
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Over 200 kilograms of drugs, 28 weapons found in major FBI Atlanta operation
ATLANTA () — An Atlanta man was charged with several drug and weapons related crimes after an FBI drug bust uncovers an 'enormous' fentanyl pill pressing lab and weapons stash. Bartholomew Keeton Harralson, 47, was charged on Tuesday by a federal grand jury with the following: Possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Harralson allegedly possessed 28 firearms, including a machine gun, and hundreds of thousands of pills containing fentanyl and other illicit drugs. 'This armed felon allegedly ran a massive fentanyl pill pressing operation in our community, producing enough deadly fentanyl to potentially kill millions of people,' said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. 'Due to the quick action and seamless collaboration of our law enforcement partners, Harralson now faces federal drug and firearms charges, his operation has been dismantled, and countless lives have almost certainly been saved.' According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, on June 5, 2025, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at Harralson's Atlanta-area residence. Once inside, law enforcement located over 56 kilograms of fentanyl, 84 kilograms of methamphetamine, nearly 10 kilograms of heroin, and approximately four kilograms of cocaine – all in the form of powders and hundreds of thousands of pressed pills. Law enforcement also located nine firearms, including one converted to function as a machine gun, $145,000 in cash, and a book titled 'How to Avoid Federal Drug Conspiracy & Firearms Charges.' Harralson was arrested at the scene. Later that same day, law enforcement executed another federal search warrant at Harralson's Douglasville residence. There, law enforcement found two large pill press machines capable of pressing up to 25,000 pills per hour, three hydraulic presses used to form kilogram-sized bricks of narcotics, more than 37 kilograms of fentanyl, approximately 13 kilograms of methamphetamine, just over eight kilograms of heroin, and more than six kilograms of cocaine. These drugs, like those recovered during the search of Harralson's other residence, were in the form of powder and hundreds of thousands of pressed pills. In addition, in a machine shop located behind the Douglasville residence, law enforcement found approximately 1,375 pounds of binding agent used to press pills, 564 punch dies to mark the pills, 19 firearms, four drum-style magazines, and a significant amount of ammunition. This case is part of Operation Take Back America and is being investigated by the FBI, DEA , and the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the South Fulton Police Department and Douglasville Police Department. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Chicago man accused of stealing mail, forging checks, and using counterfeit postal keys
The Brief Dalvin Lockhart was arrested on the Gold Coast after missing court dates tied to earlier mail theft charges. Police say he had fake postal keys, stolen IDs, and more than 50 credit and bank cards at the time of arrest. He now faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges in Cook County. CHICAGO - A Chicago man with a history of mail theft was arrested again last month—this time while allegedly carrying a load of stolen and counterfeit items. What we know Dalvin Lockhart, 30, was taken into custody April 29 near E. Walton Place by Chicago police and U.S. Postal Inspectors after skipping court appearances in both Cook and DuPage counties, according to a statement from the United States Postal Inspection Service. At the time of his arrest, authorities say Lockhart was in possession of two counterfeit postal keys, more than 50 credit and bank cards in other people's names, 15 pieces of fake U.S. currency, stolen mail, forged checks, blank check stock, and stolen identification cards, including a Social Security card and two driver's licenses. Lockhart has been charged with multiple offenses, including felony counts of possession of burglary tools, forgery, and deceptive practices. He also faces misdemeanor charges related to possessing a stolen check, theft of mislaid property, and obstructing identification. The backstory Lockhart was previously arrested in October 2024 for burglary in Chicago. Just a few months later, in February 2025, Elmhurst police arrested him again after he allegedly tried to use a false identity to obtain a car loan. In both cases, investigators say Lockhart was caught with counterfeit postal keys and stolen credit cards. Authorities say he failed to appear in court following those arrests, leading to warrants being issued in both counties. What they're saying "This arrest is a statement that mail theft will not be tolerated, and the perpetrators will be brought to justice," said Ruth M. Mendonça, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service's Chicago Division. She thanked the Chicago Police Department's 18th District for their help in making the arrest. What you can do Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of mail theft is encouraged to contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 or visit The Source Details for this story were provided in a press release from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Chicago Division.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Former Pa. police chief sentenced in meth pill case
(WKBN) – The former chief of a western Pennsylvania community was sentenced Friday on narcotics charges. Shawn Denning, 44, was sentenced to 15 months in prison following his guilty plea last year to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. He will also have to pay a $2,000 fine and be on parole for two years when he gets out. Prosecutors say that during the time that Denning was the Greensburg police chief, he was involved in a nationwide drug conspiracy and had helped numerous people buy narcotics from suppliers in California. Those narcotics included cocaine and methamphetamine disguised as counterfeit Adderall pills. One of the people Denning conspired with was former Greensburg police officer Regina McAtee, who also pleaded guilty to the drug conspiracy and will be sentenced later this month. McAtee admitted to ordering fake Adderall pills online with Denning, which really contained meth, and then sold the pills to Denning for him to distribute along with other dealers. The DEA, United States Postal Inspection Service, IRS – Criminal Investigation and FBI conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case. Drew Miller contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
15-04-2025
- CBS News
Michigan man sentenced to 30 years for using postal service to mail cocaine
A Michigan man will spend more than 30 years in prison for reportedly using the U.S. Postal Service to traffic cocaine from Texas to Michigan. Srecko Darnell Walker, 35, of Muskegon, was sentenced to 32 years in prison. Walker was convicted in a federal trial on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, distribution of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine in November 2024. According to federal prosecutors, between 2021 and 2022, Walker worked with Steven Rasic, a Muskegon-based U.S. Postal Service mail carrier, to traffic cocaine into Michigan from Hugo Benavides, a Texas-based cocaine supplier. Walker is accused of coordinating the shipments and having them sent to vacant addresses on Rasic's mail route. Law enforcement officers seized five kilograms of cocaine from the mail that Walker and his co-conspirators allegedly intended to sell in West Michigan. In March 2022, investigators seized an additional two kilograms of cocaine. After the package was seized, prosecutors say Rasic attempted to recover the parcel and falsely claimed he was acting on behalf of the U.S. Postal Service. Prosecutors say Rasic texted Walker to notify him of the cocaine being seized. In October 2022, investigators reportedly saw Walker sell cocaine to a woman in Muskegon and found cocaine, a cutting agent and a digital scale in Walker's home. After a search of his home, prosecutors say Walker admitted to importing cocaine through the mail and tracking some of the mail that contained cocaine, including one piece of mail that had more than one kilogram of cocaine inside. "As the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service, the Postal Inspection Service prioritizes the safety and security of postal employees and customers above all else," said Detroit Division Acting Inspector in Charge Sean McStravick. "Let the severity of this sentence be a warning to those who abuse the nation's mail system to transport narcotics and other dangerous or illegal substances: We will find you, we will arrest you, and we will seek to prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law." The United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Michigan State Police West Michigan Enforcement Team investigated the case. Rasic and Benavides pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge before trial and were sentenced separately.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
Man places cardboard trap inside USPS blue box to steal $96,000 in checks
A metro Atlanta man admitted to use a 'trap' to steal thousands of dollars in checks from a mail collection box. Prosecutors said it was part of a scheme to sell the stolen checks online. Keyon Ponder from Fayetteville pleaded guilty to bank fraud in federal court on Monday. He faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The United States Postal Inspection Service started investigating mail thefts at a Macon post office on May 29, 2024. Inspectors found a piece of cardboard inside a blue box, which blocked the mail from falling down into the blue box. The trap allowed whoever set it to then put his or her hand inside and grab the mail. Two days later, a USPS employee spotted a Black Tesla pull up multiple times to the blue box. The employee said the driver didn't place anything into the blue box. Inspectors saw the same Tesla return that afternoon and saw the driver stick his hand into the box and pulled items out. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office later pulled over the driver, identified as Ponder. Inside the Tesla, they found 52 pieces of stolen mail, two cell phones and a cardboard box and tape that matched the trap. When they took him to the jail, Ponder was spotted on jail security cameras pulling something out of his pants. It turned out to be an envelope with another batch of stolen checks. In total, prosecutors said Ponder had 59 checks that totaled $96,000. Prosecutors said that Ponder and several others stole the checks to sell them on Telegram messaging app. Ponder's phones contained more than 500 photos of stolen checks listed for sale. His sentencing will be scheduled for a later date. RELATED MAIL STORIES: 3 Atlanta men arrested after police find over 200 fake checks during traffic stop USPS replacing thousands of locks, collection boxes Cobb officers make arrest after more than $30,000 in checks and keys stolen from apartment complex [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
