Pembroke, MA Ex-Federal Postal Inspector to Admit Stealing $330K From Elderly Scam Victims’ Mail, DOJ Says

Pembroke, Mass. — A former federal postal inspector from Pembroke is expected to admit to stealing more than $330,000 in cash that had been mailed by elderly scam victims, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Federal prosecutors allege that former U.S. Postal Inspector Scott Kelley, 51, abused his position while working on investigations involving mail fraud. Kelley was responsible for helping protect victims of scams, but investigators say he instead intercepted packages containing cash that had been mailed by people targeted in fraudulent lottery and sweepstakes schemes.

According to the Justice Department, the alleged thefts occurred between 2019 and 2023. Prosecutors say Kelley used deceptive emails to direct postal employees to send suspicious packages to him after they had been flagged by the Postal Inspection Service’s anti-fraud program. Rather than following official procedures, authorities allege Kelley opened packages that appeared to contain cash and kept the money for himself.

The investigation found that Kelley allegedly intercepted approximately 1,950 packages. The indictment specifically identifies several elderly victims, with an average age of 75, who lost thousands of dollars after being convinced by overseas scammers to mail cash in hopes of collecting nonexistent lottery or sweepstakes prizes. Officials said none of those victims recovered their money.

Prosecutors also allege Kelley stole an additional $7,000 from a Postal Inspection Service evidence vault and attempted to shift the blame to another inspector who worked under his supervision. Authorities say he later lied to investigators about the missing money.

Federal investigators claim Kelley laundered nearly $340,000 through postal money orders and multiple bank accounts in an effort to conceal the source of the cash. Court documents allege the stolen funds were used for personal expenses, including renovations to his Pembroke home, improvements to his backyard pool area, vacations, and other luxury purchases.

The Justice Department announced that Kelley is expected to plead guilty to charges related to the scheme. Sentencing will be scheduled following his guilty plea, and the penalties could include significant prison time, restitution, and financial penalties.

The case has drawn attention because Kelley was entrusted with investigating the very types of fraud that victimized the elderly residents whose money was allegedly stolen. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and federal prosecutors described the alleged conduct as a serious breach of public trust.

The Department of Justice encourages anyone who believes they have been targeted by lottery or sweepstakes scams to report the incident and to never send cash through the mail to claim a prize. Legitimate lotteries and sweepstakes do not require winners to pay fees or taxes in advance to receive winnings.