Former Postal Worker Convicted of Drug Bribery

Emerson Pavilus, a 49-year-old former postal carrier from New Jersey, has been convicted on charges of accepting bribes, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. From 2015 to 2020, Pavilus accepted cash payments to provide addresses of vacant properties for drug shipments and intercepted these packages for delivery to his co-conspirators. An example includes a cocaine package shipped from Puerto Rico in October 2019. Pavilus faces up to 15 years in prison for bribery and five years each for the conspiracy charges, with fines up to $250,000 for each offense. The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger after a trial overseen by Judge Stephanos Bibas. Sentencing dates have not yet been set.