Posted on 12/24/2024 6:13:02 AM PST by george76
A United States Postal Service (USPS) supervisor was arrested Thursday after allegedly stealing more than 20 checks, totaling over $281,000.
Joivian Tjuana Hayes, a worker at the Costa Mesa Post Office in California, allegedly stole numerous checks, including one for more than $114,000 and allegedly deposited them into her account, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
Officials said the checks contained forged signatures and surveillance footage allegedly caught the 36-year-old depositing the checks at ATM machines scattered throughout the cities of Costa Mesa, Compton, and Fountain Valley. Hayes allegedly began depositing the checks in July 2024.
The post officer supervisor is also accused of stealing “tens of thousands of dollars in currency and gold coins” from mail that went through the Costa Mesa Post Office, the attorney’s office said.
Federal agents searched Hayes’ Compton residence and her 2023 BMW vehicle Thursday.
Hayes faces one count of bank fraud, for which she could face a maximum of 30 years in federal prison in convicted, officials said.
In November 2023, a USPS employee and two other individuals were arrested after stealing over $24 million in checks from the mail, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of North Carolina.
...
Donnell Gardner, 27, worked alongside his postal worker girlfriend and another woman to steal checks from the post office and later sell them online. In July, the three were sentenced to four and a half years in federal prison, according to The Charlotte Observer.
The trio stole over $12 million in stolen checks and more than $8 million in stolen U.S. Treasury checks from April to July 2023. They later sold them on Telegram where prosecutors had alleged they “obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars in criminal proceeds of the mail theft scheme.”
The judge in the case also ordered the three to pay over $100,000 in restitution.
“A lot of people think this is a victimless crime, but there were folks waiting for government bills, businesses thinking they’d paid their bills to vendors,” U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell said, per The Charlotte Observer. “The ripple effect is a lot.”
I tried to deposit $50,000 (I was transferring an account) via ATM, and the ATM refused it. I had to go to the bank personally.
Really? Does anyone - except presumably the judge - think that stealing checks and other items out of the mail is a "victimless crime"? Honestly, who could say something so unutterable stupid?
Donnell Gardner and his pals steal over $12 million in checks, and get just 4 1/2 years in prison.
The justice system sure is making it easy for folks to decide to take a chance.
“Joivian Tjuana Hayes” I don’t think a photo is necessary.
There is a reason that many checks, birthday cards, shipments from coin companies, etc never arrive at their destination, while your bills, insurance mailings, etc all arrive right on time.
USPS is a DEI work program for idiots and criminals. The employees are lazy and have no problem sifting through the mail looking for items to steal.
I quit trusting anything to USPS at least a decade ago.
The Post Office is a train wreck. I’ve been telling people to not mail checks for years now due to my knowledge of issues with the Post Office in my former north Atlanta area. Or any financial information.
Spot on. And everything is mentally justified because they’re getting back at whitey.
My local post office now is quite good, but I have no trust whatsoever in the regional operation. And when even our Dem Senators are speaking out on some of the issues, you know it’s a big problem.
Especially when the couple steals over $12 million and has to pay the judge imposed $100,000 fine. Somebody is out a few victimless bucks...
And I have also wondered why the number of charity solicitation envelopes showing dimes and nickels in the window envelope have dropped off over the years. Now it looks like they are being intercepted along the way....
> I quit trusting anything to USPS at least a decade ago. <
When I am forced to use them, I send my stuff by registered mail and track it every step of the way.
I wonder what the stats are for registered mail disappearing.
Note: Registered mail is better than certified mail. Some info here:
https://mypostofficelocation.com/resources/registered-mail-vs-certified-mail/
Look at the BRIGHT SIDE - this move by a typical DEI postal worker is a huge Christmas present to Trump, as he’s already looking into privatizing the P.O.
I knew of these problems long ago when I was talking to a Pitney Bowes rep. Theft was really rampant at a very large SC post office.
Electronic transfer is the only way I send gift cards and money to someone unless I can hand deliver.
The postal workers are a bunch of criminals. We have had two gift cards stolen out of the birthday cards to Mr. GG2’s grandkids. The card arrives but no gift card inside. Now we send anything of value through UPS.
You serious?
Yes. I was also kind of pist, because I went out of my way to find a bank branch with an ATM. I closed an old account with credit union at work after I left because the nearest branch was miles from my home, and moved it to one near me. When I tried to deposit the close out check they the ATM would not take it. I had to go into the local branch on Saturday.
I like to give $$ as gifts for family.
Either by Venmo, Zelle - or they can pick up the check personally. I send none of them through the mail.
I had an extremely large check I was depositing from the sale of my mother’s house - the bank told me I could have put it in the ATM and not had to come in and stand in line.
Well...that is kinda a LARGE check...I am sure govt regs mandated their actions. I cannot take over $500 out of my CU account daily...
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