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United States v. Tameka Babulal et al., 25 Cr. 310 (CS)

United States v. Tameka Babulal et al., 25 Cr. 310 (CS)

Tameka Babulal was a Postal Service mail carrier who was assigned to deliver mail and packages in Mt. Vernon, New York. She, however, did not perform the role entrusted to her and, instead, used her position to steal mail in furtherance of a fraud and identity theft scheme aimed at illicitly benefitting herself and her co-conspirators. On May 23, 2024, Tameka Babulal and her husband Joel Babulal were arrested in Hempstead, New York, and charged by criminal complaint. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/usps-mail-carrier-arrested-targeting-victims-mail-route-fraud-and-identity-theft. At the Babulal residence, mail belonging to hundreds of victims was found. To the extent possible, the Government has provided notice to these victims. 

May 29, 2026 Update

On May 29, 2026, defendant Joel Babulal pleaded guilty to one count of an indictment charging conspiracy to steal and possess stolen mail. Any remaining counts will be disposed of at the time of sentencing. As a result of the guilty plea, there will be no trial involving this defendant. The sentencing of Joel Babulal is scheduled for September 14, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. That proceeding will take place in courtroom 621 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York at 300 Quarropas Street, White Plains, New York 10601.

March 18, 2026 Update

On March 18, 2026, defendant Tameka Babulal pleaded guilty to eight counts of an indictment charging conspiracy to steal and possess stolen mail, theft of mail by a postal employee, unlawful possession of mail, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and false statements. Any remaining counts will be disposed of at the time of sentencing. As a result of the guilty plea, there will be no trial involving this defendant. The sentencing of Tameka Babulal is scheduled for June 30, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. That proceeding will take place in courtroom 621 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York at 300 Quarropas Street, White Plains, New York 10601.

Updates regarding the progress of this case will be posted on this site.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York is committed to protecting the rights of crime victims. If you believe you are a victim of the offense charged, our Victim/Witness Unit can make sure that you are notified of important stages of the case to help you exercise your rights. In addition, our Victim/Witness Unit is available to answer questions you might have about this case and can refer you to available resources.

Federal crime victims have the following rights, as set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3771:

  1. The right to be reasonably protected from the accused.
  2. The right to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of any public court proceeding, or any parole proceeding, involving the crime or of any release or escape of the accused.
  3. The right not to be excluded from any such public court proceeding, unless the court, after receiving clear and convincing evidence, determines that testimony by the victim would be materially altered if the victim heard other testimony at that proceeding.
  4. The right to be reasonably heard at any public proceeding in the district court involving release, plea, sentencing, or any parole proceeding.
  5. The reasonable right to confer with the attorney for the Government in the case.
  6. The right to full and timely restitution as provided in law.
  7. The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay.
  8. The right to be treated with fairness and with respect for the victim’s dignity and privacy.
  9. The right to be informed in a timely manner of any plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement.
  10. The right to be informed of the rights under this section and the services described in section 503(c) of the Victims’ Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 10607(c)) and provided contact information for the Office of the Victims’ Rights Ombudsman of the Department of Justice.

Please note that you should not assume that all mail that was missing, lost, delayed, or stolen during the relevant timeframe is attributable to the defendants.

For information and assistance, please contact the SDNY Victim and Witness Coordinator noted below. Contacting the Victim and Witness Coordinator does not confer victim status under the law, nor does it establish loss amount, restitution, causation, or direct and proximate harm under § 3771:

SDNY Victim and Witness Coordinator
United States Attorney's Office
26 Federal Plaza, 37th Floor
New York, NY 10278
1-866-874-8900

Updated June 25, 2026