USPS employee allegedly mailed marijuana out of state

SEATTLE — An employee at the U.S. Post Office on lower Queen Anne in Seattle is being investigated for allegedly mailing marijuana out of state dozens of times.

Terrell T. Carrington, 37, was arrested Tuesday, but was released from jail Wednesday on personal recognizance.  He has not yet been charged with a crime, but according to investigative documents filed in King County Superior Court, Carrington faces possible illegal drug and money laundering charges.

The investigative documents also reveal Carrington’s apartment on South 133rd Street in Seattle was searched by U.S. Postal Inspection Service agents and Bellevue Police officers last week. The door to the apartment also appears to have been kicked-in because court documents reveal "Carrington had left the state" that same day.

Investigators claim they found a "green substance" in the apartment that tested positive for "marijuana," two vacuum sealers, two scales with pot residue and a large number of "USPS Express Mail labels, Fed Ex boxes" and shipping receipts.  They also allegedly found a handgun, shotgun and $2,000.

Carrington has been under investigation since last December when postal inspectors intercepted a package filled with $8,000 addressed to Carrington's home.

They believe the money was payment for mailed marijuana.

Investigators wrote in documents that they placed Carrington under surveillance and watched him arrive at the Queen Anne Post Office, saw him weigh personal packages on federal equipment inside the post office, then walk to a nearby Federal Express Office where he then mailed the packages.

According to investigative documents, since April of 2016 Carrington has mailed 33 packages weighing between 4 and 13 pounds, all believed to contain marijuana.

A search warrant has been filed to gain access to Carrington’s bank records. Once the investigation is complete, the USPS OIG will submit its report to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle. Any charges filed against Carrington would be filed by federal prosecutors.

Outside a King County jail courtroom in downtown Seattle on Friday, Carrington had no comment about his arrest or the on-going investigation.

Michael Ridley, a spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, said its investigation is ongoing and that he could not comment on whether Carrington is still employed by the USPS.

Cox Media Group