A Brooklyn has been arrested for allegedly stealing checks from the mail stream while working at a Suffolk branch of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).
In September 2023, the USPS Office of the Inspector General launched an investigation, with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) joining shortly thereafter. Investigators found that, between February 3, 2023 and May 4, 2023, Dendrick Emery, while employed by the Postal Service as a mail handler, allegedly stole four separate checks from the mail stream totaling $6,486.12 and remotely deposited them into his personal bank account.
On June 5, 2024, Emery was arrested by investigators assigned to the Public Corruption Squad of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, together with agents from USPS OIG and HSI New
York. Emery was arraigned on the following day 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. He was released without bail because his charge is not a bail-eligible offense under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set,
bail.
“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 Ray Tierney. “I want to thank the U.S. Postal Service Office of the 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 comprise 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 U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General 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.”
Emery is due back in court on June 20, 2024.
“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.”