USPS Temporarily Halts Mail Service in Santa Monica amid Carrier Assault, while Walnut Woman Admits $150M Postal Fraud

USPS has temporarily halted mail services in a specific neighborhood of Santa Monica after multiple mail carriers have been subjected to assault, according to authorities. In contrast, a woman from Walnut named Lijuan “Angela” Chen pleaded guilty on Friday for defrauding the United States Postal Service (USPS) out of over $150 million by utilizing counterfeit stamps to ship millions of packages.
Chen owned and operated a package shipping business in Industry with her co-owner, Chuanhua “Hugh” Hu, officials disclosed. The enterprise offered shipping services for China-based logistics businesses that involved transporting goods via USPS. To avoid paying official postage fees, Hu started producing fake stamps as early as 2019 by creating duplicated and counterfeit Netstamp imprints online.
As the authorities closed in on him, Hu fled to China where he allegedly developed a computer program for fabricating false shipping labels using counterfeited postal service marks. Chen remained behind in America managing their warehouses while her accomplice evaded law enforcement officers abroad. “This defendant participated in a fraud scheme that caused massive losses to our nation’s postal service,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada as reported by news outlets like U.S. News & World Report, The Hill and the New York Post on July 30, adding further: “My office will continue to focus on holding fraudsters accountable and bringing justice to victims everywhere.”
As part of her plea agreement, Chen has agreed to forfeit funds from various sources including bank accounts, insurance policies as well as properties located in Chino, Chino Hills, Diamond Bar, South El Monte, Walnut, and West Covina. Hu is still at large believed to be living as a fugitive in China where he faces charges that include one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S., alongside an accusation charging him for the offenses regarding making fraudulent stamps under section 7201(a)(3) and (b)(4).