Policy

Millions in Checks Swiped by Postal Workers

Government workers stealing? Unpossible!

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Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night could stop these postal employees from stealing checks.

The former supervisor at an Atlanta mail distribution facility, a coworker and four others pled guilty this month to stealing $3 million in U.S. Treasury checks, including veterans benefits, tax refunds and Social Security checks.  By the time authorities figured out the scheme, the small theft ring had stolen or cashed 1,300 federal checks, officials said.

And the Georgia workers aren't alone. Between April and September of this year, 171 Postal Service employees were arrested for theft, willful delay or destruction of mail, according to a new report by the USPS inspector general. The Service has about 546,000 employees.