Former Postal Worker Pleads Guilty to Role in Drugs Trafficked through U.S. Mail

TOLEDO, Ohio – Marcus Gaines, 34, of Toledo, Ohio, has pleaded guilty to his role in a drug trafficking scheme that used the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to distribute controlled substances.

According to court documents, USPS received a package in June 2024 which postal inspectors suspected of containing narcotics. A federal search warrant was obtained to open the parcel and resulted in the seizure of two suspicious substances. A forensic laboratory later performed a chemical analysis which confirmed the substances to be approximately 2.2 pounds of powder cocaine, and 1 pound of heroin mixed with fentanyl.

According to the original complaint and underlying affidavit, Gaines was employed by USPS as a letter carrier at the time the package in question was seized. Investigators found that the intended delivery address for the parcel containing the narcotics was on his assigned mail delivery route. Investigators repackaged the seized parcel with a sham substance and placed it back into the mail stream. Gaines collected the parcel, and it was transported along his delivery route with other U.S. mail and packages. The defendant then drove to a parking lot along his route and met with a co-conspirator where an exchange occurred.

During the investigation, federal agents learned that the co-conspirator paid Gaines $500 for each package he delivered which contained narcotics. Each delivery occurred at a location selected by the co-conspirator which fell within the delivery route traveled by Gaines during his shift. When Gaines identified parcels labeled with fictitious names addressed to locations along his route, he knew to deliver those packages to the co-conspirator rather than the listed address.

On July 10, 2025, Gaines pleaded guilty to the following charges:

• 1 Count - Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances
• 2 Counts - Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance

He faces a maximum of up to 20 years in prison and up to $1 million in fines. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 30, 2025. The co-conspirator also faces charges related to the drug trafficking scheme.

This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the United States Postal Service-Office of the Inspector General.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank H. Spryszak for the Northern District of Ohio.

USPIS is the law enforcement branch of the United States Postal Service. To report mail theft or other crimes committed through, or towards, the United States Postal Service, call the USPIS at 1-877-876-2455 or visit uspis.gov/report.