NCJ Number
196703
Date Published
2001
Length
64 pages
Annotation
This annual report presents the investigation activities of the United States Postal Inspection Service in the year 2001 and initiatives embarked on to ensure the safety of both customers and employees and on securing the mail.
Abstract
The mission of the United States Postal Inspection Service is to protect the U.S. Postal Service, its employees, and its customers from criminal attack, and protect the Nation’s mail system from criminal misuse. This report provides an overview of investigative activities in the year 2001 by the United States Postal Inspection Service that includes: mail theft, violent crimes, mail fraud, child exploitation, illegal drugs and trafficking, asset forfeiture and money laundering, and revenue and asset protection. In 2001, mail theft received the highest level of investigative attention with 6,364 suspects arrested. Increased attention by Postal Inspectors and Postal Service Threat Assessment Teams resulted in a dramatic reduction of postal related assault and credible threats and resulted in 378 arrests. Postal Inspectors investigated 3,475 fraud cases in fiscal year 2001 and responded to approximately 66,000 mail fraud complaints. They arrested 1,691 offenders and 1,477 were convicted as a result of the investigations. In the year 2001, Postal Inspectors arrested 335 individuals on child sexual exploitation offenses related to the mail and Inspectors reported 259 convictions. Postal Inspectors arrested 1,662 suspects in 2001 for drug trafficking and money laundering through the U.S. mail. Postal Inspectors seized 421 assets and secured 485 forfeitures in the year 2001 with forfeiture activity netting $9.8 million. The Postal Service also reported annual operating revenues of $64.5 billion. Revenue investigations included 315 criminal cases, 86 criminal convictions, 12 civil cases presented and 12 resolved, $5.9 million was the total amount ordered or agreed to be paid as a result of a civil prosecutive action, $33,147 was paid in voluntary restitution, and $9.3 million in court-ordered criminal restitution. In addition to investigative activities within the United States Postal Inspection Service, the report offers an overview of the agency’s initiatives and programs maintaining their high priority on the safety of customers and employees and the security of the mail. These initiatives and programs focus on security and safety, information technology, consumer education, fraud prevention and legislative action, forensic and technical services, and professional standards and resource development. Tables and charts