Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for ...

BROOKLYN, NY - After an investigation led by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Alfonso Forney, 47, was sentenced on April 22, 2026, to seven years in prison on charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

U.S. postal inspectors investigated a pattern of mail thefts in Brooklyn that began in February 2023. Postal inspectors quickly linked Forney to two robberies between January 2023 and December 2023 in which letter carriers were held at gunpoint for their postal keys. Forney and his co-conspirators used the postal keys to steal checks from the mail, which were subsequently deposited into Forney's bank accounts or cashed.

Between January and March 2024, Forney also impersonated another individual to fraudulently gain access to their bank accounts. Forney withdrew at least $245,000 and deposited a portion of the victim's funds into his own bank accounts. Forney also used the victim's identity to obtain an automobile loan for approximately $25,000, which Forney used to purchase a vehicle in the victim's name.

Postal inspectors also learned that Forney carried out significant amounts of fraud involving the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA), the New Jersey Unclaimed Property Administration, and elderly individuals.

Forney was arrested on May 31, 2024, and was held in federal custody until his August 8, 2025, guilty plea to felony charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. In addition to his prison sentence, with credit for time served since his arrest, Forney was also ordered to four years of probation and to pay $590,000 in restitution.

"Postal inspectors are determined to keep postal employees safe and the mail secure," said Ketty Larco-Ward, inspector in charge of the New York Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. "I commend our postal inspectors, in collaboration with detectives from the New York Police Department Financial Crimes Task Force, in tracking down this individual and putting a stop to his wave of financial crimes. We are pleased justice was served to keep this prolific mail thief off the streets and postal carriers safe while they serve Brooklyn communities."