WASHINGTON: A 33-year-old Pakistani national from Khanewal, Faheem Akram, has been indicted in the United States on charges of allegedly causing more than $126 million in losses to the US Postal Service through a scheme involving the sale of counterfeit postage shipping labels.

According to US media outlet NBC Miami, a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida indicted Faheem Akram on multiple charges, including conspiracy to defraud the United States and the US Postal Service and the production and sale of counterfeit postage labels. The US Postal Inspection Service has also confirmed the indictment and the seizure of the website allegedly used in the scheme.

According to US authorities, Akram allegedly operated an unauthorized website called “LabelsBank.com,” which sold counterfeit US Postal Service shipping labels. Investigators said the website was not an authorized USPS postage reseller.

Court records indicate that more than 5.1 million counterfeit shipping labels were allegedly sold through the website, with more than 5,000 customers purchasing the labels. Authorities allege that customers were generally charged about $2 per label regardless of the weight, size or destination of the package.

US authorities said the use of the counterfeit labels allowed customers to ship packages at prices far below the legitimate postage rates, resulting in more than $126 million in alleged lost revenue for the US Postal Service. The US Postal Inspection Service has also confirmed the figure of more than $126 million in losses and the sale of more than 5.1 million counterfeit labels.

As part of the enforcement action, US authorities seized the domain name “LabelsBank.com” under a court order and shut down the website. According to the US Postal Inspection Service, the investigation was conducted by its Miami Division in cooperation with other federal agencies.

Faheem Akram faces one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to make and sell counterfeit postage, five counts related to the production and sale of counterfeit postage labels, and four counts of wire fraud.

Under US federal law, certain conspiracy and counterfeit-postage charges carry maximum prison sentences of up to five years, while each wire-fraud count can carry a maximum sentence of up to 20 years if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the court following judicial proceedings.

US authorities said the investigation was conducted by the Miami Division of the US Postal Inspection Service, while federal prosecutors are handling the case. Investigators said the alleged online sale of counterfeit postage labels caused substantial financial losses to the US Postal Service.

Bladismir Rojo, who heads the Miami Division of the US Postal Inspection Service, said the agency’s enforcement efforts extend beyond US borders and that authorities would continue pursuing those who use counterfeit postage to defraud the Postal Service and consumers.

US Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones said the alleged scheme was simple but operated on a large scale, allowing customers to purchase counterfeit postage labels at significantly reduced prices.

US authorities have emphasized that the allegations against Faheem Akram remain allegations at this stage. Under US law, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.