Rule2023-15449
Circulars and Rewards
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 21, 2023
Effective
August 21, 2023
Issuing agencies
Postal Service
Abstract
The Postal Inspection Service has the authority to issue monetary rewards for certain types of offenses against the United States Code. Changes in the relevant regulation will be made to reflect an increase in monetary reward amounts and a reclassification of the types of offenses for which rewards can be issued.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 139 (Friday, July 21, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 139 (Friday, July 21, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47024-47026]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15449]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 233
Circulars and Rewards
AGENCY: Postal Service<SUP>TM</SUP>.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Postal Inspection Service has the authority to issue
monetary rewards for certain types of offenses against the United
States Code. Changes in the relevant regulation will be made to reflect
an increase in monetary reward amounts and a reclassification of the
types of offenses for which rewards can be issued.
DATES: Effective August 21, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Louis DiRienzo, Chief Counsel, U.S.
Postal Inspection Service at 202 268-2705 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5d313739342f34383327321d282e2d342e733a322b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="036f69676a716a666d796c437670736a702d646c75">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 39 CFR 233.2 gives Postal Inspection Service
the authority to issue monetary rewards for certain types of offenses
against the United States Code. 39 CFR 233.2 will be changed to reflect
an increase in monetary reward amounts and a reclassification of the
types of offenses for which rewards can be issued. Specifically, the
rule change will reclassify offenses by categories which were
previously classified by monetary amount. Reward amounts for the
recategorized offenses will be increased to reflect current valuations
and severity of such offenses.
These changes will be mirrored in the publication of the Postal
Service's Poster 296, embedded in the footnote of 39 CFR 233.2, which
in turn, will facilitate a better understanding of the Postal Service's
reward system to the general public. Such changes will further enhance
any investigation of the listed offenses and provide a deterrent
incentive to the commission of crimes against the Postal Service.
Additionally, the new rule adds a reward for mail fraud offenses. These
changes will give the Chief Postal Inspector the discretion to
authorize rewards exceeding Poster 296 amounts, and to offer rewards
for other offenses not specifically listed in Poster 296.
The Postal Service is publishing a final rule to update Postal
Service regulations regarding the 39 CFR part 233.2, Circulars and
Rewards. The circumstances which created the need for the update were
as follows: (1) 39 CFR 233.2 was published as a final rule on March 29,
2004; (2) since the publication of 39 CFR 233.2, no updates have been
made; (3) changes to Poster 296 will be simultaneously made with this
rule change to increase reward amounts and to recategorize the types of
offenses for which rewards can be offered (4) an update to 39 CFR 233.2
is required to ensure its consistency to the current Poster 296
changes.
We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 223 to
reflect these changes.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 233
Administrative practice and procedure, Banks, Banking, Credit,
Crime, Infants and children, Law enforcement, Penalties, Privacy,
Seizures and forfeitures.
[[Page 47025]]
PART 233--[AMENDED]
0
1. The authority citation for part 233 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 39 U.S.C. 101, 102, 202, 204, 401, 402, 403, 404,
406, 410, 411, 1003, 3005(e)(1), 3012, 3017, 3018; 12 U.S.C. 3401-
3422; 18 U.S.C. 981, 983, 1956, 1957, 2254, 3061; 21 U.S.C. 881;
Pub. L. 101-410, 104 Stat. 890 (28 U.S.C. 2461 note); Pub. L. 104-
208, 110 Stat. 3009; Secs. 106 and 108, Pub. L. 106-168, 113 Stat.
1806 (39 U.S.C. 3012, 3017); Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 584.
0
2. In Sec. 233.2, revise paragraphs (a) and (b)(1), the note following
paragraph (b)(2), and paragraph (c) to read as follows:
Sec. 233.2 Circulars and rewards.
Circulars. The Inspection Service may issue wanted circulars or
notices to assist in the apprehension of fugitives sought in the
connection of postal offenses. The Inspection Service may issue
circulars or notices seeking information and services leading to the
arrest and conviction of any person for postal offenses. Circulars and
notices may offer rewards as set forth in paragraph (b) of this
section.
(b) * * *
(1) Rewards may be paid for any amount up to the maximum
categorical amount stated in Poster 296, under the conditions stated in
Poster 296, Notice of Reward, for information leading to the
apprehension of fugitives sought in the connection of the following
postal offenses, or for information and services leading to the arrest
and conviction of any person for the following postal offenses:
(i) Robbery or attempted robbery.
(ii) Mailing or causing to be mailed bombs, explosives, poison,
weapons of mass destruction.
(iii) Post Office burglary.
(iv) Stealing or unlawful possession of mail or money or property
of the United States under the custody or control of the Postal
Service, including property of the Postal Service.
(v) Destroying, obstructing, or retarding the passage of mail.
(vi) Altering, counterfeiting, forging, unlawful uttering or
passing of postal money orders; or the unlawful use, counterfeiting or
forgery of postage stamps or other postage; or the use, sale, or
possession with intent to use or sell, any forged or counterfeited
postage stamp or other postage.
(vii) Assault on postal employee.
(viii) Murder or manslaughter of a postal employee.
(ix) Mailing or receiving through the mail any visual depiction
involving the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, or
the use of the mail to facilitate any crime relating to the sexual
exploitation of children.
(x) The use of the mails or any Postal Service product or service
to engage in money laundering, mailing, or causing to be mailed any
money or other financial instrument which has been obtained illegally,
(xi) Using the mail to execute a scheme to defraud or obtain money
or property from another by false pretenses or promises.
(xii) Illegally mailing or causing to be mailed controlled
substances, narcotics, illegal drugs, or the proceeds from the sale of
illegal drugs.
(xiii) Illegally mailing or causing to be mailed any firearm.
(xiv) Defrauding the USPS Workers' Compensation Program by any
current or former postal employee.
* * * * *
Note 1 to paragraph (b): The text of Poster 296, referred to in
paragraph (b)(1) of this section, reads as follows:
The United States Postal Inspection Service may pay rewards up
to the listed amounts for the apprehension of fugitives sought in
the connection of the below listed offenses or for information and
services leading to the arrest and conviction of any person for the
below listed offenses:
Offenses Against USPS Employees/Contractors
MURDER OR MANSLAUGHTER: $250,000
The unlawful killing of any officer, employee, or contractor of
the Postal Service<SUP>TM</SUP> while engaged in or on account of
the performance of his or her official duties.
ROBBERY: $150,000
Robbery or attempted robbery of any custodian of any mail,
money, or other property of the United States under the control and
jurisdiction of the Postal Service.
ASSAULT ON POSTAL EMPLOYEES: $150,000
Forcibly assaulting any officer or employee of the Postal
Service while engaged in or on account of the performance of his or
her official duties.
Offenses Involving Mailings
BOMBS, EXPLOSIVES, WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, POISONS: $250,000
Mailing or causing to be mailed any bombs, explosives, actual or
simulated weapons of mass destruction, dangerous chemicals or
biological materials that may kill or harm another, or injure the
mail or other property, or the placing of any bomb or explosive in a
postal facility, vehicle, depository, or receptacle established,
approved, or designated by the Postmaster General or their designee
for the receipt of mail.
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, NARCOTICS: $100,000
Illegally mailing or causing to be mailed any controlled
substances, illegal drugs, or the proceeds from the sale of illegal
drugs.
MONEY LAUNDERING: $100,000
The use of the mails or any Postal Service product or service to
engage in money laundering, mailing or causing to be mailed any
money or other financial instrument which has been obtained
illegally.
FIREARMS: $100,000
Illegally mailing or causing to be mailed any firearm.
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN: $150,000
The use of the mail to traffic in child pornography or
facilitate any other crime relating to the sexual exploitation of
children.
MAIL FRAUD: $100,000
The use of the mail to execute a scheme to defraud or obtain
money or property from another by false pretenses or promises.
Offenses Involving Theft of Mail or USPS Property
BURGLARY OF POST OFFICE: $100,000
Breaking into, or attempting to break into, a Post
Office<SUP>TM</SUP>, station, branch, a building used wholly or
partly as a Post Office, or any building or area in a building where
the business of the Postal Service is conducted, with intent to
commit a larceny or other depredation therein.
THEFT OF MAIL OR POSTAL SERVICE PROPERTY: $100,000
Theft or attempted theft of any mail, or the contents thereof,
or the theft of money or any other property of the Postal Service or
the United States under the custody and control of the Postal
Service from any custodian, postal vehicle, railroad depot, airport,
or other transfer point, Post Office, or station, receptacle, or
depository established, approved, or designated by the Postmaster
General for the receipt of mail; possession of any item above which
was stolen from Postal Service custody; or destroying, obstructing,
or retarding the passage of mail, or any carrier or conveyance
carrying the mail.
THEFT OF POSTAL MONEY ORDERS: $100,000
Theft or possession of stolen postal money orders or any Postal
Service equipment used to imprint money orders; or altering,
counterfeiting, forging, unlawful uttering, or passing of Postal
money orders.
POSTAGE OR METER TAMPERING: $100,000
The unlawful use, reuse, or forgery of postage stamps, postage
meter stamps, permit imprints, or other postage; or the use, sale,
or possession with intent to use or sell any used, forged, or
counterfeited postage stamp or other postage.
WORKERS COMPENSATION FRAUD: $100,000
Defrauding the USPS Workers' Compensation Program by any current
or former postal employee.
Related Offenses
The United States Postal Service also offers rewards as stated
above for information and services leading to the arrest and
conviction
[[Page 47026]]
of any person: (1) for being an accessory to any of the above
crimes; (2) for receiving or having unlawful possession of any mail,
money, or property secured through the above crimes; and (3) for
conspiracy to commit any of the above crimes.
General Provisions
1. The Postal Inspection Service investigates the above-
described crimes. Information concerning the violations, requests
for applications for rewards, and written claims for rewards should
be furnished to the nearest Postal Inspector. The written claim for
reward payment must be submitted within 6 months from the date of
conviction of the offender, the date of arrest of a previously
convicted fugitive, the date of formally deferred prosecution, or
the date of the offender's death if the offender was killed while
committing a crime or resisting lawful arrest for one of the above
offenses.
2. Reward amounts shown above are the maximum amounts that may
paid; however, the Chief Postal Inspector may authorize rewards in
excess of the maximum amounts for specific matters. The maximum
reward amount that may be paid for information leading to the
apprehension of fugitives, or for information and services leading
to the arrest and conviction of any person for specific matters, or
incidents may be set forth in the specific circular or notices and
may be less than the maximum amount listed above.
3. Overall, the actual amount paid on any reward will be based
on the significance of information provided or services rendered,
character of the offender, risks and hazards involved, time spent,
and expenses incurred.
4. The term ``custodian'' as used herein includes any person
having lawful charge, control, or custody of any mail matter, or any
money or other property of the United States under the control and
jurisdiction of the United States Postal Service.
5. The Postal Service reserves the right to reject a claim for
reward where there has been collusion or criminal involvement, or
improper methods have been used to effect an arrest or to secure a
conviction. It has the right to allow only one reward when several
persons were convicted of the same offense, or one person was
convicted of several of the above offenses. Postal employees are not
eligible to receive a reward.
6. Rewards for additional offenses not specifically listed in
this notice may be offered upon approval of the Chief Postal
Inspector [39 U.S.C. 404 (a) (7)].
(c) Authorization. The Chief Postal Inspector or his delegate is
authorized to pay a reward to any person who provides information
leading to the detection of persons or firms who obtain, or seek to
obtain, funds, property, or services from the Postal Service based upon
false or fraudulent activities, statements, or claims. The decision as
to whether a reward shall be paid and the amount thereof shall be
solely within the discretion of the Chief Postal Inspector or his
delegate and the submission of information or a claim for a reward
shall not establish a contractual right to receive any reward. The
reward shall not exceed one-half of the amount collected by the Postal
Service as a result of civil or criminal proceedings to recover losses
or penalties as a result of false or fraudulent claims or statements
submitted to the Postal Service. Postal employees assigned to the
Postal Inspection Service, the Law Department, or USPS Office of
Inspector General are not eligible to receive a reward under this
section for information obtained while so employed. The Chief Inspector
may establish such procedures and forms as may be desirable to give
effect to this section including procedures to protect the identity of
persons claiming rewards under this section.
Tram T. Pham,
Attorney, Ethics and Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2023-15449 Filed 7-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on July 21, 2023.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.