PEMBROKE, Mass. (WWLP) — A former Massachusetts U.S. Postal Inspector has been arrested and charged for allegedly stealing more than $330,000 from packages mailed by elderly victims.
Scott Kelley, 51, of Pembroke, is facing a 45-count indictment, including wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and theft of government money, according to a release from the Department of Justice. Kelley is accused of using the stolen funds to cover personal expenses, including a pool patio, Caribbean cruises, and escorts.
Kelley, who served as the Team Leader of the Mail Fraud Unit from 2015 until June 2022, is alleged to have intercepted approximately 1,950 packages flagged by a U.S. Postal Inspection Service algorithm as potentially sent by scam victims. The packages reportedly contained cash, which Kelley stole.
The victims, with an average age of 75, had been tricked by scammers into mailing cash for supposed fees or taxes tied to fake lottery winnings. Kelley allegedly met one victim in person, denying knowledge of the package’s fate.
Additionally, Kelley is accused of stealing $7,000 from an evidence locker and falsely blaming a colleague, prompting an investigation by the USPS Office of Inspector General.
Kelley allegedly laundered the stolen money through postal money orders and bank deposits, using burner phones and relatives’ names to disguise his involvement. His personal expenditures included $20,500 for a pool patio, $4,300 for cruises, and $15,400 for escorts during workdays.
