Catonsville postman accused in theft of 20K pieces of mail

The Baltimore Sun ^ | 6-2-14 | Ian Duncan and Brandi Bottalico

[afraidfortherepublic]

A Catonsville letter carrier who worked for the postal service for more than two decades stole more than 20,000 pieces of mail, according to federal authorities.

Jeffrey L. Shipley is accused of pilfering checks and money orders. He is accused of filching passports and prescription medication. He is accused of pilfering credit cards and Mother's Day cards. He is even accused of stealing furniture from the United States Postal Service.

Shipley was charged in federal court last week with one count each of mail theft and delaying the mail.

Neither Shipley nor his attorney could immediately be reached for comment — he previously declined to talk to a reporter.

Shipley was hired in August 1993 and most recently worked Tuesday to Saturday out of a postal facility in Catonsville, according to court documents. He delivered mail to homes on Winters Lane, Old Frederick Road, Lincoln Park, Roberts Avenue, Shipley Avenue and Johnson Street.

The charges do not say when authorities believe Shipley began the thefts, but they started investigating him in February according to other court documents.

Investigators from the USPS Inspector General's officer initiated their case after receiving a tip over an Internet hotline that Shipley was stealing bagfuls of mail as well as taking jewelry, Netflix movies and passports from the mail, according to court documents.

As the investigators set to work, they met with people who provided photographs of Shipley's mail-stuffed apartment and interviewed people on his route who had previously complained about letters not arriving, according to the documents.

[Oratam]

I wonder if this letter carrier also had a scheme for driving to Michigan in a mail truck loaded with bottle returns?

[the OlLine Rebel]

Yes, another great one. But...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bFaOCOMQH8

[Bigg Red]

That is just so insane that people were snapping shots of his mail hoard. Were these friends that he invitee over to view his treasures, or what?

Perhaps my question is answered in the full article, but I refuse to go to the “Baltimore Sun” site.

[Albion Wilde]

You need to get this back to your friend pronto. Maybe she can get her job back. Serious.

Doubtful -- she got fired for cussing out the boss when he didn't believe her that the check never reached her. Oh, well...