Pittsburgh —A former U.S. Postal Service procurement official who pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiring to commit bribery and honest services wire fraud in a scheme involving contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars will be sentenced in February, officials announced this week.
James E. Lee Sr. helped four companies win or retain packaging supply contracts in exchange for hiring his relative as an employee or consultant, according to court documents.
The arrangements generated nearly $183,000 in payments to the relative.
Lee is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 25, 2027.
Lee worked as a product management specialist overseeing expedited packaging supplies and served as a contracting officer’s representative on several manufacturing and supply contracts.
From about mid-2018 through late 2023, Lee gave the companies preferential treatment, reviewed draft technical proposals and disclosed confidential internal information about pricing and other matters, according to court documents.
Some individual contracts were worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Lee also took official actions and influenced other officials during the procurement process. He used his relative and the relative’s consulting company as intermediaries to relay information and conceal his efforts to steer contracts.
The relative and a former executive at one of the manufacturing companies previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
The Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General and the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office are investigating
Quick Fact Checklist
☑ Defendant: James E. Lee Sr.
☑ Position: Former USPS procurement official
☑ Plea: Conspiracy to commit bribery and honest services wire fraud
☑ Scheme: About mid-2018 through late 2023
☑ Companies favored: Four
☑ Contracts: Some worth hundreds of millions of dollars
☑ Payments to relative: Nearly $183,000
☑ Sentencing: Feb. 25, 2027
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