[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 [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15449]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 233


Circulars and Rewards

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

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 [email protected].

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 ServiceTM 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 
OfficeTM, 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