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

In January 2016, the defendant met and began a corrupt relationship with a U.S. mail carrier who delivered packages in Philadelphia. Thereafter, the defendant bribed the mail carrier to agree to divert to the defendant certain packages that had been placed in the U.S. mail. Under their arrangement, the mail carrier would bring certain packages directly to the defendant at various locations, rather than delivering those packages to the address specified on the package. In return, the defendant paid the mail carrier $35 per package.

On or about August 31, 2016, federal law enforcement agents investigating the importation of marijuana to Philadelphia observed and videotaped the mail carrier as he diverted a package to the defendant. During the period between January 10 and February 13, 2017, federal agents seized five packages that contained large quantities of marijuana that were to be diverted by the mail carrier to the defendant, under their corrupt arrangement.     

“Bribing a government worker and drug trafficking are both serious crimes,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “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.”

The sentencing hearing is scheduled on March 19, 2019, before United States District Judge Gerald I. Pappert.  The mail carrier has previously pleaded guilty to accepting bribes from the defendant and is awaiting sentencing.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Bea Witzleben and Timothy Stengel.