Sarasota: United States Postal Service Employee Arrested & Facing Felony Charges for Stealing Mail

SPD

Anabel Ossombi, 27, of Bradenton, has been arrested and is facing several felony charges, including criminal use of personal identification (over 30 victims), scheme to defraud (over $50,000), and money laundering. Ossombi has been employed by the United States Postal Service (USPS) since May 2022 as a mail sorter.

Sarasota Police detectives and the USPS Office of Inspector General began a check fraud investigation in January 2023 after two victims said two customer checks were not received. The victims told detectives a business mailed payment as a check for products purchased. Both victims called businesses and they said never received the checks. The business said the checks were deposited into unknown accounts.

Detectives obtained and submitted certified subpoenas for bank records to begin their investigation. Detectives learned that 75 different checks totaling $70,109.28 were fraudulently deposited, including approximately 60 victim complaints. Detectives believe this happened between May 2022 and April 2023.

Detectives interviewed 13 managers/accountants/bookkeepers for 13 of the 60 companies who were victims of the fraudulently deposited checks into Ossombi’s account. All 13 companies said they mailed checks through USPS, which were either picked up by a USPS Carrier or dropped off at one of three locations in Sarasota. Detectives confirmed Ossombi worked at all three locations during her employment.

Tips to protect yourself and your mail from the United States Postal Inspection Service:

• Promptly pick up mail

• Inquire about overdue mail

• Do not send cash

• Arrange for prompt pickup

• Use hold for pickup

• Request signature confirmation

• File a change of address with the Postal Service and financial institutions when moving

Ossombi was arrested on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at the post office on Beneva Road, and taken to the Sarasota County Jail.

Detectives believe there may be more victims in this case. Anyone with information on this case is asked to call Detective Jessica Sullivan at 941-263-6076 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS or online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com