CLEVELAND – Ulysses Bradley, manager of the vehicle maintenance facility (VMF) for the United States Postal Service (USPS) serving the Northern District of Ohio, was recently charged with one count of conspiracy to commit theft of U.S. government property and misappropriation of postal funds, according to a release by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Bradley, 42, oversaw local branch offices in Parma, Shaker Heights, Akron, Canton, and Youngstown and was responsible for approving payments for service and maintenance for all USPS vehicles, in addition to selling used USPS vehicles.

Prosecutors said Bradley approved fake invoices for high-dollar maintenance and detailing work on post office vehicles between May 13, 2004 and Aug. 15, 2008, reported the Plain Dealer.

According to the DOJ, Bradley and others allegedly prepared and approved false invoices submitted to the U.S. Postal Service in order to receive funds for vehicle washing/waxing work never performed and used the names of fictitious or third-party companies to prepare and submit fictitious payment requests to receive funds for high-end vehicle maintenance work never performed. Bradley, using his authority as a certifying officer, would reportedly approve the payments stating the work had been performed when he knew that it had not.

In exchange for his approvals, Bradley allegedly received a cash share (or "kickback") of the funds the U.S. Postal Service had paid to the listed contractors. To hide the evidence, he would destroy the payment requests in contravention of the U.S. Postal Service record keeping regulations. In total, Bradley approved fictitious invoices resulting in a loss to the U.S. Postal Service of approximately $190,000, according to the DOJ.

Further, Bradley would sell used USPS vehicles to individuals, without putting them up for public auction, in return for a cash "kickback" payment.

If convicted, Bradley's sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant's prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin J. Roberts, following an investigation by the Cleveland Office of the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General, according to the DOJ.