Former USPS Driver Pleads Guilty To Theft In Waterbury: Feds

WATERBURY, CT — A 44-year-old former U.S. Postal Service driver from Waterbury waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty Monday to theft of postal funds, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Leonard C. Boyle and Postal Service Special Agent Matthew Modafferi.

Lindim Asipi pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to one count of wire fraud related to the theft.

According to court documents and statements, Asipi was a service driver for the USPS in Waterbury, and was given a fleet credit card that enabled him to purchase fuel.

"Between approximately January 2019 and June 2020, Asipi conducted several hundred fraudulent transactions with his fleet credit card to obtain cash from gas stations without purchasing fuel," according to prosecutors.

To make the fraudulent transactions, Asipi used his assigned personal identification number (PIN), as well as the PIN of another USPS driver who was unaware of Asipi's scheme, prosecutors said.

"On April 11, 2020, Asipi was recorded on store video surveillance driving his USPS vehicle and parking next to the gas pumps at a gas station in Prospect," according to prosecutors. "After Asipi exited the vehicle and entered the store, Asipi's credit card was used to charge $160 at 11:50 a.m. and $140 at 11:51 a.m. Surveillance video footage then shows Asipi driving away from the gas station without pumping any fuel."

Sentencing has not yet been scheduled, but Asipi faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.

This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen.