A Brooklyn man has admitted guilt in a federal court in New Haven to an identity theft charge connected to a scheme involving the U.S. Postal Service. According to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, David X. Sullivan, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division, Ezekiel Bailey, 33, waived indictment and entered his plea on Thursday.
Authorities said the investigation began after reports surfaced that someone was using bad checks to buy large amounts of postage stamps from post offices across Connecticut and neighboring states. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service determined that Bailey used stolen identities from three victims, along with fake driver’s licenses and checks drawn on empty accounts set up in those victims’ names, to purchase about $98,000 worth of stamps from post offices in Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts and other locations.
Bailey was arrested on January 20, 2023 on related state charges after attempting to buy 25 books of postage stamps for $300 at a Stonington post office. At the time of his arrest, he had two fake driver’s licenses bearing names of identity theft victims. Federal criminal charges were filed against him on November 26, 2024.
“Bailey pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft, an offense that carries a mandatory term of imprisonment of two years. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 9.”
Bailey has been released on a $25,000 bond while awaiting sentencing.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel George.
