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Berkshires Featured In New Stamp Series Honoring Appalachian Trail's Beauty Berkshires Featured In New Stamp Series Honoring Appalachian Trail's Beauty
Berkshires Featured In New Stamp Series Honoring Appalachian Trail's Beauty A new set of stamps celebrating the Appalachian Trail has been released, showcasing breathtaking landscapes across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic. The U.S. Postal Service unveiled the Forever stamps during a first-day-of-issue ceremony at Amicalola Falls State Park in Georgia on Friday, Feb. 28. The stamps honor the nearly 2,200-mile trail that stretches through 14 states. The collection highlights key locations along the trail, from New England's rugged peaks to historic sites in the mid-Atlantic. "The natural beauty of the Appalachian Trail has delighted millions throughout the…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
USPS Redesigns Money Orders: How New Security Elements Will Fight Fraud USPS Redesigns Money Orders: How New Security Elements Will Fight Fraud
USPS Redesigns Money Orders: How New Security Elements Will Fight Fraud The U.S. Postal Service is redesigning its money orders to include advanced security elements for combatting counterfeits and fraud, officials said. The USPS will debut the new money orders in February, the agency said in a news release on Wednesday, Jan. 22. The redesigned orders will be red, white, and blue with an updated bank routing number. To enhance protection, the redesign incorporates watermarks, a security thread, and a QR code directing users to the USPS website. Additional security features remain undisclosed to further deter fraudulent activities. The current "legacy" des…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Scammers Posing As Well-Known Businesses, Agencies: Here's What To Know, Feds Say Scammers Posing As Well-Known Businesses, Agencies: Here's What To Know, Feds Say
Scammers Posing As Well-Known Businesses, Agencies: Here's What To Know, Feds Say Federal authorities are sounding the alarm over scams that impersonate well-known businesses and government agencies.  In 2023, data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alone show more than 330,000 reports of business impersonation scams and nearly 160,000 reports of government impersonation scams. That amounts to nearly half the frauds reported directly to the agency, the FTC said. Combined, reported losses to these impersonation scams topped $1.1 billion for the year, more than three times what consumers reported in 2020. Reports show an increasingly blurred line between busine…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Victims Scammed Out Of $2.2M By NJ Couple In 'Publishers Clearing House Lottery' Scheme: Cops Victims Scammed Out Of $2.2M By NJ Couple In 'Publishers Clearing House Lottery' Scheme: Cops
Victims Scammed Out Of $2.2M By NJ Couple In 'Publishers Clearing House Lottery' Scheme: Cops A couple from Secaucus is facing a litany of charges after scamming residents in multiple states out of more nearly $2.2 million, police said. Akeem Lee and Majda Hodzic-Lee called victims in Florida, Minnesota, Arizona, Kansas, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Nebraska, saying they'd won the "Publishers Clearing House Lottery," Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller said. In exchange for the vehicles and large sums of money the victims were told they won, they were required by Lee and Hodzic-Lee to send cash, money orders and/or gift cards for taxes, fees and IRS …

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by Cecilia Levine
News
$874K Scheme: Former Danbury Postmaster Defrauded Postal Service, Solicited Bribes: Feds $874K Scheme: Former Danbury Postmaster Defrauded Postal Service, Solicited Bribes: Feds
$874K Scheme: Former Danbury Postmaster Defrauded Postal Service, Solicited Bribes: Feds A 50-year-old Massachusetts man who once served as postmaster for a Fairfield County post office has admitted to defrauding the US Postal Service out of over $874,000 as part of a bribery, kickback, and embezzlement scheme that he operated, officials announced. Former Brookfield resident Ephrem D. Nguyen, age 50, pleaded guilty to a fraud offense related to his scheme on Friday, Oct. 13, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced.  According to federal officials, Nguyen, who now lives in Quincy, Massachusetts in Norfolk County, had been employed b…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
The Check Was In The Mail: Central Mass Ex-Postal Worker Gets Probation For Stealing Cash The Check Was In The Mail: Central Mass Ex-Postal Worker Gets Probation For Stealing Cash
The Check Was In The Mail: Central Mass Ex-Postal Worker Gets Probation For Stealing Cash A former US Postal Service worker who admitted to stealing nearly $100,000 worth of cash from a Worcester County business's mail will avoid jail time but will spend six months confined to her home, federal authorities said.  Roberta Feliz, 33, of Fitchburg, who pleaded guilty last year to one count of theft of mail by an employee of the US Postal Service, was sentenced on Wednesday, March 8, to three years probation, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Feliz worked as the lead sales and service associate with the Gardner Post Office. From February through July 2020, Feliz sto…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Several Lawrence, Southbridge Men Busted In Ring That Mailed 20 Pounds of Cocaine: DEA Several Lawrence, Southbridge Men Busted In Ring That Mailed 20 Pounds of Cocaine: DEA
Several Lawrence, Southbridge Men Busted In Ring That Mailed 20 Pounds of Cocaine: DEA The DEA said they busted a ring of 21 men who trafficked nearly 20 pounds of cocaine into eastern and central Massachusetts through the mail. Federal authorities identified the following men earlier this month and charged them with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute various weights of fentanyl and cocaine and distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, the DEA said. Those men were:  Jonathan Pizarro Gonzalez, 30, of Southbridge Isaac Gonzalez, 31, of Southbridge Ismael Maysonet, 40, of Southbridge Nataly Vazquez P…

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by Josh Lanier
News
3 From Westchester Charged In illegal Gambling Operation Allegedly Run By Lucchese Crime Family 3 From Westchester Charged In illegal Gambling Operation Allegedly Run By Lucchese Crime Family
3 From Westchester Charged In illegal Gambling Operation Allegedly Run By Lucchese Crime Family Five New York men, including three from Westchester County, have been accused of overseeing and operating a 15-year long, large-scale illegal, online gambling business with suspected ties to the Lucchese crime family, federal authorities announced. An indictment was unsealed in Brooklyn Federal Court on Wednesday, Sept. 14 charging them for their roles overseeing and operating a large-scale illegal, online gambling business under the protection of the Lucchese organized crime family. The gambling business known as “Rhino Sports” utilized an offshore website and dozens of bookmakers in …

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Massachusetts Post Office Manager Admits To Stealing Packages Of Cocaine: Feds Massachusetts Post Office Manager Admits To Stealing Packages Of Cocaine: Feds
Massachusetts Post Office Manager Admits To Stealing Packages Of Cocaine: Feds A 43-year-old Worcester post office manager pleaded guilty last month in federal court to stealing packages at least eight times that contained cocaine so he could sell the drugs, the Department of Justice announced.  Kevin Dombroski of Worcester admitted to one count of mail theft by a US Postal Service employee on Aug. 30, the US Attorney's Office said. A federal judge will sentence him in January. Dombroski said he stole packages between eight to 10 times that were mailed from Puerto Rico to Worcester that he thought had drugs inside. He would take the parcels into a private ro…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Whitinsville Post Office Worker Busted For Stealing Packages: Feds Whitinsville Post Office Worker Busted For Stealing Packages: Feds
Whitinsville Post Office Worker Busted For Stealing Packages: Feds Porch pirates have become a major nuisance, but federal authorities said a U.S. Postal Service carrier decided to cut out the middle man and steal the packages himself.  William J. Page, 32, who worked at the USPS office in Whitinsville, was arrested this week and charged with three counts of mail theft by a Postal Service employee, the U.S. Attorney's Office said on Friday, Aug. 19.  Investigators said Page swiped collector's coins and other items in January and February 2022.  If convicted, Paige faces up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine, the D…

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by Josh Lanier
News
CT Man Sentenced For Role In Cocaine Trafficking Ring Involving Postal Worker CT Man Sentenced For Role In Cocaine Trafficking Ring Involving Postal Worker
CT Man Sentenced For Role In Cocaine Trafficking Ring Involving Postal Worker A Connecticut man is heading to federal prison for his role in a cocaine trafficking ring that involved a US Postal worker. Kendall Hooks, age 50, of Hartford, was sentenced to more than 5 years behind bars Wednesday, May 11, in federal court in Hartford. It came nearly nine months after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, the US Attorney’s Office said. The charges stemmed from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Hartford and the US Postal Inspection Service that revea…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Alert Issued For Scam USPS Package Delivery Postponed Texts Alert Issued For Scam USPS Package Delivery Postponed Texts
Alert Issued For Scam USPS Package Delivery Postponed Texts Law enforcement officials are cautioning of a new text message "smishing" scam that involves phony messages being sent from fraudsters posing as members of the US Postal Service (USPS). Alerts have been issued by state and federal officials following recent reports from consumers who have received messages claiming to be from USPS about a change in delivery shipment. The messages typically include a link that could potentially expose one to scammers looking to steal personal identifying information. Many who click the phony link have wound up being hacked or prompted to provide new informat…

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by Zak Failla
News
Holiday Shipping Deadlines - Order By Tuesday, Dec. 15, For Delivery Before Christmas Holiday Shipping Deadlines - Order By Tuesday, Dec. 15, For Delivery Before Christmas
Holiday Shipping Deadlines - Order By Tuesday, Dec. 15, For Delivery Before Christmas If you want your online orders and mailed packages to arrive by Christmas, you should probably hit “ship” by or on Tuesday, Dec. 15. For a list of shipping deadlines, scroll to the end of the article. Major delivery service providers such as U.S. Postal Service and FedEx have released holiday shipping schedules providing people with their best chances for on-time delivery.  Some retailers, including BJ’s Wholesale Club, are pushing for even earlier ordering deadlines to be sure of on-time delivery during what promises to be a busier-than-usual delivery season.  “Online orde…

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by Kristin Palpini
News
Voters Urged To Hand-Deliver Unsent Mail-In Ballots - 'Do Not Rely On USPS' Voters Urged To Hand-Deliver Unsent Mail-In Ballots - 'Do Not Rely On USPS'
Voters Urged To Hand-Deliver Unsent Mail-In Ballots - 'Do Not Rely On USPS' Do not rely on the U.S. Postal Service to deliver your ballot on time for the election if you haven’t sent it already is the message politicians and reporters are trumpeting following a report that delivery times are way down. On Tuesday, Oct. 27, the New York Times reported that the USPS says on-time delivery rates for first-class mail are “far below its target,” the Times tweeted. “Experts warn that, at this point, voters in many parts of the country should hand-deliver ballots to local officials or drop boxes.” Locally, on Tuesday, Hamden State Rep. Michael D'Agostino told voters …

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by Kristin Palpini