On September 24, 2021, in the Eastern District of New York, Feng Chen also known as Xiaofei Chen, was sentenced for possession of stolen mail. Chen entered a guilty plea on July 9, 2021.

According to the court documents, on April 28, 2020, New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers observed Chen looking inside a medical collection bin at a closed medical office, then walking to a nearby residential building and examining mail left at the door. Chen continued to walk to another residential building carrying what appeared to be mail. He discarded the mail he was holding when he saw the police officers. When questioned, Chen made contradictory statements and was discovered to have an outstanding arrest warrant for a criminal case involving identity theft.

The police officers arrested and searched Chen. Between the search of Chen and an examination of mail recovered from the sidewalk, the police officers found multiple checks to include nine economic impact payments checks from the United States Department of the Treasury, otherwise known as stimulus payments, totaling more than $12,000. Chen also had credit cards, and opened envelopes and letters bearing the names of various individuals and addresses.

This matter was investigated jointly by special agents of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the NYPD.

Chen received 14 months' imprisonment, and was ordered to pay a $100 assessment fee.

Source:  The facts in this case narrative come from the following publicly available documents: E.D.N.Y., J., imposed September 24, 2021; E.D.N.Y. Press Release published April 29, 2020; and E.D.N.Y., Crim. Compl., filed April 29, 2020.