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Ex-postal inspector from Mass. accused of stealing over $300K, spending it on himself
Scott Kelley, 51, of Pembroke, was charged in a 45-count indictment on Friday.
A former postal inspector pleaded not guilty on Friday to a 45-count indictment that alleges he stole $340,000 from the postal service for personal use, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and court documents.
Scott Kelley, 51, of Pembroke, allegedly stole cash from packages mailed by elderly scam victims and laundered the money without reporting it to the IRS.
Kelley allegedly used the money to pay off credit card bills and on escorts, home improvement, and cruises, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
From 2015 to August 2023, Kelley worked as a postal inspector at the Boston office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and served as the team leader of the Mail Theft Unit beginning in June 2022, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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As a postal inspector, part of Kelley’s job was to intercept packages that contained “fees” or “taxes” that people had been tricked into sending by a scammer, ostensibly to receive a sweepstakes prize. The postal service was supposed to return the package to the sender or, with the sender’s consent, open the package, count the cash with another inspector present, and then convert that amount to a check to be sent to the sender.
Between January 2019 and Aug. 11, 2023, Kelley allegedly sent deceptive emails to unwitting employees to intercept packages flagged as having been sent by potential scam victims and send them to him, according to the U.S. Attorney.
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Kelley reportedly received 1,950 packages via mail and kept the cash inside.
Seven victims who mailed between $1,400 and $19,100 in cash have been identified. Their average age was 75, with the oldest being 82, according to the U.S. Attorney. None recovered the packages or money.
Kelley allegedly met one victim in person and told them the loss was their fault because they mailed cash, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Additionally, Kelley is suspected to have used another employee’s key to enter an evidence locker and steal $7,000 in cash, and told investigators that one of his direct employees stole the cash after writing a memo that alleged the same.
Kelley also allegedly used $160,000 to purchase postal money orders that he desposited into his bank accounts or used to pay credit card bills. For over 20 money orders, Kelley listed a family member as the purchaser to hide that he was the purchaser and the payee, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Over $130,000 was deposited into four different bank accounts at two banks across 60 dates, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
With the stolen funds, Kelley allegedly paid for a $20,000 pool patio installation, $2,000 to have the pool heated, $2,800 for a granite countertop for his outdoor bar, $4,888 for bar and pool lighting, $4,300 for bar drinks and expenses on three Caribbean cruises, and $15,400 for sexual services from escorts who he texted on a burner phone and met with during work days, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
In Boston federal court on Friday, Kelley was indicted on 23 counts of money laundering, one count each of theft of government money and structuring to evade reporting requirements, and five counts each of wire fraud, mail fraud, mail theft by a postal officer, and of filing false tax returns.
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Each money laundering charge provides a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison with a maximum of three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the value of the transaction, whichever is greater.
The charges of wire fraud and mail fraud each provide a maximum 20-year sentence with up to three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The charges of mail theft by a postal officer and of structuring each provide a sentence of up to five years with up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
Theft of government money provides up to 10 years in prison with three years of supervised release and a $250,000 maximum fine. False tax returns charges each provide up to three years in prison with up to one year of supervised release and a fine of $100,000 maximum.
Kelley was released on a $25,000 bond and is set to appear for a conference on Oct. 16, according to court documents.
“Scott Kelley has had a distinguished career full of integrity and honesty,” Kelley’s attorney, Nat Carney, told Boston.com. “Mr. Kelley will present the whole truth when he has his day in court.”
Note: This story has been updated to include a statement from Scott Kelley’s attorney.
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