G.W. Agisotiels Informant file (Case No. 185486-MD) (United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General)

Dear Mr. Barbetta:

This responds to your February 3 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for records related to the informant file of George William Agisotelis in relation to U.S. Postal Inspection Service case file #185468-MD.

The OIG does not maintain the records you are seeking; therefore, we cannot assist you with this matter.

The U.S. Postal Service comprises the Postal Service, the USPIS, the Postal Rate Commission (PRC); and the OIG; each with its own area of responsibility and individual FOIA office.

The Postal Service Records Office establishes procedures to ensure Postal Service records management practices comply with both the FOIA and Privacy Act. The Records Office, along with the St Louis Requester Service Center, is the designated custodian for non-law enforcement Postal Service records; including but not limited to contracting and personnel records. Additional information regarding the Postal Service FOIA program can be found at https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/foia/welcome.htm.

The USPIS is the designated custodian for postal records relating to Postal Service law enforcement issues. The USPIS is a federal law enforcement entity charged with enforcing the Federal statutes involving mail fraud, illegal drugs, external mail theft, and other postal crimes, including revenue deficiencies, and are responsible for safety and security of all postal employees and facilities. Information on the USPIS is available on the Internet at: https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov.

The OIG is an independent agency, created in 1997, with oversight authority over audits and investigations of Postal and Inspection Service fraud, abuse, and misconduct. The OIG's mission is to prevent, detect, and report fraud, theft, and misconduct, and promote efficiency in the operation of the Postal Service.

While the OIG has "oversight authority" for activities of the above referenced entities, the OIG is a separate agency and does not have management authority over the daily operations of either the Postal Service or USPIS. In addition, the OIG FOIA office does not have access to records maintained by the Postal Service or UPSIS and cannot direct either FOIA office to release records under their control.

In 1996 Congress passed the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, of 1997 Pub. L. 104-208 § 101(f) (1996), which amended the Inspector General Act of 1978 and authorized the creation of an independent OIG for the U.S. Postal Service. The Inspector General is appointed by, and reports directly to, the nine presidentially appointed Governors of the Postal Service. Prior to this time, Postal Service audits and investigations were conducted by the USPIS. Therefore, we have forwarded a copy of your request to their FOIA office. They will respond to you directly. If you have questions regarding this referral, please contact them via email at foia@uspis.gov<mailto:foia@uspis.gov>, or in writing at:

Inspection Service FOIA/PA Unit
475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW, Room 3301
Washington, DC 20260

If you have questions regarding the processing of this request, please submit them in writing to foia@uspsoig.gov<mailto:foia@uspsoig.gov>. We will provide you an answer within two working days. You may also contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) at the National Archives and Records Administration to inquire about the FOIA mediation services they offer. The contact information for OGIS is: Office of Government Information Services, National Archives and Records Administration, Room 2510, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, Maryland 20740-6001, e-mail at ogis@nara.gov<mailto:ogis@nara.gov>; telephone at 202-741-5770; toll free at 1-877-684-6448; or facsimile at 202-741-5769.

As this completes our work on your request, we are closing your file here.

Sincerely,

USPS OIG FOIA Team