Ridley Park man pleads guilty to mail fraud in N.J. federal court

A Ridley Park man on Wednesday pleaded guilty in federal court in Camden, N.J., to defrauding the U.S. Postal Service of more than $1.5 million in postage, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Anthony L. Bucolo, 75, the owner and operator of a Gloucester County bulk mail company, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 22, 2019.

According to a prepared release issued by Carpentito’s office citing documents filed in the case and statements made in court:

Bucolo owned and operated a business that prepared bulk mail, typically for shipping mass mailings on behalf of other businesses, educational institutions and charitable organizations. With the assistance of one of his employees, Bucolo defrauded the USPS of more than $1.5 million in postage while billing clients as if such postage had been paid. Bucolo and his conspirator underreported the volume of mail pieces actually mailed, altered USPS forms, and added mail onto pallets, trays, tubs or sacks after the mail had been accepted and postage assessed and collected by a postal employee.

The wire fraud conspiracy charge to which Bucolo pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the offense. In his plea agreement, Bucolo agreed to make restitution for the full amount of the loss, $1.5 million, which was paid in full on Wednesday.

Carpenito credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Daniel B. Brubaker, and special agents of the USPS-Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Kenneth Cleevely, Eastern Area Field Office, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Diana Vondra Carrig represented the government, while Michael J. Engle represented the defendant.