USPS worker accused of hoarding thousands of confidential letters and bills
A 53-year-old postal employee is charged with keeping thousands of pieces of mail, including tax and medical records, and faces up to five years in federal prison.
Authorities allege that a 53-year-old United States Postal Service employee amassed a trove of confidential mail, including California Employment Development Department letters, financial and insurance records, medical correspondence, tax documents and utility statements. The worker was first put on administrative leave and then quit his job after the hoard was uncovered. Federal charges carry a potential sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, and the defendant is set to appear in court today.
This investigation echoes a 2016 prosecution in which 33 people, largely former postal workers, faced charges for stealing or not delivering about 50,000 pieces of mail. Among those was Sherry Naomi Watanabe of the Sawtelle District, who was found with more than 48,000 items at her residence, and a Los Angeles man who attempted to pilfer PayPal debit cards from the mail.
Why it matters
The case highlights vulnerabilities in mail security and the potential exposure of personal financial and health information.
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