New Jersey Postmaster Indicted for Sexual Assault and Civil Rights Violation

Gabriel Ekram Pagabe Ali accused of assaulting a federal employee while acting in his official capacity.

Gabriel Ekram Pagabe Ali, 47, a U.S. Postal Service postmaster in Teaneck, New Jersey, has been indicted on federal charges for sexually assaulting a Postal Service employee under his supervision and violating her civil rights. The indictment, announced by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, includes charges of sexual assault and assault while acting under color of law.

Incident Details

According to the indictment, the assault occurred on November 26, 2022, at the Teaneck Post Office. Ali is accused of depriving the victim of her right to bodily integrity during the attack, violating her civil rights. Additionally, he is charged with forcibly assaulting the victim while she was engaged in her official duties as a federal employee.

Potential Penalties

If convicted, Ali faces up to:

• Three years in prison for the civil rights violation.
• Eight years in prison for the assault charge.

Investigation and Prosecution

The case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office, led by Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi. Prosecutors include Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Gribko and Javon Henry for the District of New Jersey, as well as Trial Attorneys Laura Gilson and Chloe Neely from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

Legal Presumptions

The charges in the indictment are allegations, and Ali is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

For further details, the investigation remains ongoing under the oversight of federal authorities.