Philly Man Bribed Mail Carrier To Deliver Marijuana: Feds

PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia man accused of bribing a mail carrier to deliver marijuana to him was convicted Wednesday, federal officials said.

U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain announced Patrick Walker, 52, was convicted by a jury of one count of bribery and one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

In January 2016, Walker struck a relationship with a U.S. mail carrier who delivered packages in Philadelphia.

Walker later bribed the mail carrier to agree to divert certain packages that had been placed in the U.S. mail to Walker.

As part of their arrangement, the mail carrier would bring certain packages directly to Walker at various locations, rather than delivering those packages to the address specified on the package.

In return, Walker paid the mail carrier $35 per package.

Around Aug 31, 2016, federal authorities started investigating marijuana imports to Philadelphia.

They witnessed the mail carrier as he diverted a package to the Walker. During the period between Jan. 10, 2017 and Feb. 13, 2017, federal agents seized five packages that contained large quantities of marijuana that were to be diverted by the mail carrier to the Walker, per their arrangement.

"Bribing a government worker and drug trafficking are both serious crimes," McSwain said. "Patrick Walker had no respect for the law and we are thankful to the jury for holding him accountable for his crimes. He was stopped from further breaking the law by the excellent law enforcement work of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General."

Walker is set to be sentenced on March 19, 2019.

The mail carrier has previously pleaded guilty to accepting bribes from the defendant and is awaiting sentencing.

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