A U.S. Postal Service Postmaster has been indicted on federal civil rights charges related to a sexual assault incident involving a postal employee. The indictment, which was unsealed today, accuses Gabriel Ekram Pagabe Ali, 47, of committing the offense while acting under color of law in Teaneck, New Jersey.
The charges stem from an alleged incident on November 26, 2022, where Ali is accused of sexually assaulting a fellow U.S. Postal Service employee during her official duties at the Teaneck post office. The indictment includes two counts: one for depriving the victim of her right to bodily integrity and another for forcibly assaulting her while she was engaged in her work duties.
If found guilty, Ali could face up to three years in prison for the civil rights violation and eight years for the assault charge. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge who will consider various guidelines and statutory factors.
The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey, and Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. The prosecution team includes Trial Attorneys Laura Gilson and Chloe Neely from the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Gribko and Javon Henry from the District of New Jersey.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.