[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 60 (Monday, March 29, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16166-16167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6886]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 233


Circulars and Rewards

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service has amended its regulations to update the 
list of types of postal offenses covered by Poster 296, Notice of 
Reward.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 29, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Evelena C. Carroll (202) 268-4549.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under certain conditions, the Postal Service 
pays rewards for information and services leading to the arrest and 
conviction of persons for certain types of postal offenses. Poster 296, 
Notice of Reward, gives detailed information regarding the types of 
offenses covered, the maximum amounts of rewards, and the conditions 
under which rewards will be paid. This final rule updates Poster 296 to 
cover certain additional types of offenses, including the mailing of 
weapons of mass destruction, the facilitation crimes relating to the 
sexual exploitation of children, and the use of Postal Money Orders for 
money laundering purposes.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 233

    Administrative practice and procedure, Banks, banking, Credit, 
Crime, Infants and children, Law enforcement, Penalties.


0
In view of the considerations discussed above, the Postal Service 
adopts the following amendments to 39 CFR part 233:

PART 233--INSPECTION SERVICE AUTHORITY

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); 12 U.S.C. 3401-3422; 18 U.S.C. 981, 
1956, 1957, 2254, 3061; Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1996, 
sec. 662 (Pub. L. 104-208).


Sec.  233.2  [Amended]

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2. In Sec.  233.2 paragraphs (b)(1) introductory text, (ii), (ix), (x), 
and the note following paragraph (b)(2) are revised to read as follows:


Sec.  233.2  Circulars and rewards.

    (b) Rewards. (1) Rewards will be paid up to the amounts and under 
the conditions stated in Poster 296, Notice of Reward, for the arrest 
and conviction of persons for the following postal offenses:
* * * * *
    (ii) Mailing or causing to be mailed bombs, explosives, poison, 
weapons of mass destruction, or controlled substances.
* * * * *
    (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) Mailing or causing to be mailed any money which has been 
obtained illegally, or the use of Postal Money Orders to launder 
illicit proceeds.
* * * * *

    Note: The text of Poster 296, referred to in paragraph (b)(1) of 
this section, reads as follows:


The United States Postal Service offers a reward up to the amounts 
shown for information and services leading to the arrest and conviction 
of any person for the following offenses:
    Murder or Manslaughter, $100,000. The unlawful killing of any 
officer or employee of the Postal Service while engaged in or on 
account of the performance of their official duties.
    Bombs or Explosives, $100,000. Mailing or causing to be mailed any 
bombs or explosives which may kill or harm another, or injure the mails 
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 for the receipt of mail.
    Offenses Involving the Mailing of Threatening Communications, 
Weapons of Mass Destruction, Poisons, or Hazardous Materials, $100,000. 
Mailing or causing to be mailed any threatening communications, actual 
or simulated weapons of mass destruction, dangerous chemicals or 
biological materials, which may kill or injure another, or injure the 
mails or other property.
    Assault on Postal Employees, $50,000. Forcibly assaulting any 
officer or employee of the Postal Service while engaged in or on 
account of the performance of their official duties.
    Controlled Substances, Illegal Drugs, or Cash Proceeds from Illegal 
Drugs, $50,000. Mailing or causing to be mailed any controlled 
substances, illegal drugs, or proceeds from the sale of illegal drugs.
    Money Laundering, $50,000. Mailing or causing to be mailed any 
money which has been obtained illegally, or the use of postal money 
orders to launder illicit proceeds.
    Postage or Meter Tampering, $50,000. 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.
    Robbery, $50,000. Robbery or attempted robbery of any custodian of 
any mail, or money or other property of the United States under the 
control and jurisdiction of the United States Postal Service.
    Sexual Exploitation of Children, $50,000. The use of the mails to 
traffic

[[Page 16167]]

in child pornography, or facilitate any other crime relating to the 
sexual exploitation of children.
    Burglary of Post Office, $10,000. Breaking into, or attempting to 
break into, a post office, station, branch, or building used wholly or 
partially 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.
    Offenses Involving Postal Money Orders, $10,000. 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.
    Theft, Possession, Destruction, or Obstruction of Mail, $10,000. 
Theft or attempted theft of any mail, or the contents thereof, or the 
theft of money or any other property of the United States under the 
custody and control of the United States Postal Service from any 
custodian, postal vehicle, railroad depot, airport, or other transfer 
point, post office or station or receptacle or depository established, 
approved, or designated by the Postmaster General for the receipt of 
mail; or destroying, obstructing, or retarding the passage of mail, or 
any carrier or conveyance carrying the mail.
    Workers' Compensation Fraud, $10,000. Defrauding the 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 
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 six months from the date of conviction 
of the offender, or the date of formally deferred prosecution or the 
date of the offender's death, if killed in committing a crime or 
resisting lawful arrest for one of the above offenses.
    2. The amount of any reward will be based on the significance of 
services rendered, character of the offender, risks and hazards 
involved, time spent, and expenses incurred. Amounts of rewards shown 
above are the maximum amounts which will be paid.
    3. 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.
    4. The Postal Service reserves the right to reject a claim for 
reward where there has been collusion, 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 for the offenses listed above, other than Workers' 
Compensation fraud. Employees assigned to the Postal Inspection 
Service, the General Counsel's office, and those who manage or 
administer the Injury Compensation Program are not eligible to receive 
rewards.
    5. Other rewards not specifically referred to in this notice may be 
offered upon the approval of the Chief Postal Inspector (39 U.S.C. 
404(a)(8)).

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 04-6886 Filed 3-26-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P