LOS ANGELES – In a significant legal decision today, two brothers from Temecula were handed federal prison sentences for orchestrating an elaborate scheme that defrauded the United States Postal Service (USPS) of over $2.1 million through the filing of thousands of counterfeit Priority Mail insurance claims.
Anwer Fareed Alam, aged 36, and his younger brother Yousofzay Fahim Alam, 34, both faced U.S. District Judge Wesley L. Hsu, who sentenced them to 27 months behind bars while also mandating that they collectively pay restitution in the amount of $2,135,739 to the USPS for their fraudulent activities.
From October 2016 through May 2019, the Alam brothers engaged in a systematic fraud operation by purchasing Priority Mail packages and postage from the USPS, which included a $100 insurance policy for lost or damaged contents. They devised a scheme where Anwer Alam would prepare empty or nearly worthless packages, dispatching them via Priority Mail to fictitious recipients at invented addresses.
In a critical role in the operation, Yousofzay Alam manipulated the USPS’s insurance claims process by submitting bogus claims through the Postal Service’s online portal. He falsely certified that the packages contained high-value items, concocted stories that the packages were either lost or damaged in transit, and attached fake invoices along with misleading photographs that did not correspond to the actual contents of the parcels. To maintain their fraudulent facade, the Alam brothers employed various aliases and created fictitious business names, thus obscuring the true extent of their deceitful claims.
In response to the fraudulent information provided in the claims forms, the USPS issued checks to the Alam brothers against their supposed losses, which included up to $100 in value along with the associated shipping costs. These checks were mailed to various addresses in Temecula, including their residential and business locations, as well as approximately 15 different post office boxes located at two separate post offices. They subsequently deposited the acquired funds into their bank accounts, benefiting from their illicit activities.
For instance, in November 2018, the Alam brothers orchestrated the mail delivery of a $106.59 Priority Mail claim check, which was sent to a business address in Temecula, further illustrating their fraudulent methods.
The total financial damage inflicted on the USPS through this fraudulent scheme amounted to a staggering $2,135,739.
The investigation into this extensive fraudulent operation was conducted by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, leading to the successful prosecution of the Alam brothers.
Assistant United States Attorney Courtney N. Williams from the Riverside Branch Office diligently prosecuted this case, ensuring justice was served against the fraudulent actions of the Alam brothers.
**Interview with Postal Fraud Expert, Dr. Emily Rivera**
**Editor**: Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Rivera. We’ve just learned about the Alam brothers from Temecula, who scammed the USPS out of over $2.1 million with their fraudulent scheme. What can you tell us about the nature of this type of fraud?
**Dr. Rivera**: Thank you for having me. The Alam brothers’ case is a textbook example of postal fraud, where individuals exploit systems designed to provide insurance protections. In this instance, they purchased Priority Mail packages with included insurance and created fake claims—this kind of manipulation is unfortunately not unique, but the scale of their fraudulent activities is alarming.
**Editor**: How did the brothers manage to carry out such an extensive scheme without getting caught for so long?
**Dr. Rivera**: They used a very systematic approach. By sending empty or nearly worthless packages to non-existent addresses and repeatedly filing claims, they were able to exploit the system’s trust. Their ability to submit claims online also enabled them to operate under the radar for a while. It’s a reminder that these platforms can be vulnerable if not adequately monitored.
**Editor**: What kind of consequences are typical for individuals involved in postal fraud like this?
**Dr. Rivera**: In this case, the brothers received 27-month prison sentences and are required to pay restitution, which is common for cases involving significant financial fraud. Sentences can vary widely, depending on the amount defrauded and the court’s discretion, but restitution is often mandatory. The legal system aims to deter such actions by highlighting the serious repercussions.
**Editor**: What measures do you think the USPS could take to prevent such fraud in the future?
**Dr. Rivera**: There are several things the USPS could do. Enhancing their fraud detection mechanisms is crucial—this includes better monitoring of insurance claims and looking for patterns that suggest fraudulent activity. Additionally, they could improve their verification processes for claim submissions to ensure greater authenticity before processing claims.
**Editor**: Thank you, Dr. Rivera, for your insights. The Alam brothers’ case serves as a warning and a reminder of the need for vigilance against such fraudulent activities.
**Dr. Rivera**: Absolutely. Thank you for discussing this important issue.
