AKRON, OH – A former U.S. Postal Service employee is facing new federal charges in a wide-ranging bribery and contract-rigging scheme that allegedly funneled multimillion-dollar USPS trucking contracts to favored companies in exchange for cash bribes disguised as “birthday gifts” and “coffee makers.”
Josef Ratcliff, 60, of Akron, was hit with a superseding indictment on February 4 charging him with conspiracy to commit honest services mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit extortion, honest services mail and wire fraud, extortion under color of official right, receipt of bribes by a federal official, and concealment money laundering. He was initially indicted in July 2025 on bribery-related charges.
According to federal prosecutors, Ratcliff worked as a purchasing and supply management specialist for the USPS, responsible for reviewing and recommending bids for mail transportation contracts worth more than $10 million. Investigators say he abused that authority by leaking confidential bid information and manipulating the contracting process to benefit select businesses across the country—including firms in Washington, Nevada, New York, and North Carolina—in exchange for illicit payments.
Bribes masked as birthday gifts and “car oil leaks”
The indictment alleges Ratcliff’s co-conspirators funneled thousands of dollars to him through checks, cash, and electronic transfers. To hide the payments, senders used coded descriptions such as “car oil leak,” “birthday present for big boy,” and “pop rocks for little daddy.” In one case, a $3,500 transfer was labeled as payment for a “coffee maker and beans.” Prosecutors say one co-conspirator alone sent 14 bribes totaling nearly $39,000.
Federal investigators also recorded phone conversations in which Ratcliff allegedly shared confidential bid data, discussed ways to secure deadline extensions for preferred contractors, and talked openly about using the bribe money to buy a car and a new home. In one call, prosecutors say he warned a co-conspirator that his access to USPS systems was ending, saying the scheme was “about to dry the f–k up.”
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Six others plead guilty in related cases
The investigation has already resulted in multiple guilty pleas from Ratcliff’s alleged associates: William Michael Clark of Las Vegas, Zoma Shaikh and Jilani Ahad of the Bronx, Vakar Maniar of Raeford, North Carolina, Rafeh Ahad of Fort Myers, Florida, and Eric Asante Wiredu of Middletown, New York. Sentencings are scheduled between March and April.
Key takeaways
• Former USPS employee Josef Ratcliff accused of manipulating multimillion-dollar mail transport contracts for bribes.
• Payments disguised as “birthday gifts” and “coffee makers” to hide kickbacks.
• Six co-conspirators have pleaded guilty; Ratcliff faces additional charges in the superseding indictment.
If convicted, Ratcliff faces decades in federal prison. Sentencing will be determined by the court following a full review of the evidence, his role in the conspiracy, and any prior record.
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