Mail theft inquiry finds link to drugs

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

A veteran postal employee whom authorities suspect of stealing mail from the Honolulu airport office and exchanging it for cash or drugs had three packages of stolen mail in his possession, U.S. postal and narcotics authorities said yesterday.

The 45-year-old postal distribution clerk was still at large yesterday, and authorities said they want to question him in connection with the alleged theft of credit cards and checks from the mail that were bartered for cash or drugs.

Postal Inspector Kathryn M. Derwey said the employee, who has 20 years experience, was suspended indefinitely without pay in mid-July.

Derwey said the thefts involved "mostly letter-sized mail," that contained checks and credit cards. Investigators found "three manila-sized envelopes" containing stolen mail in the employee's possession, she said.

More mail was likely stolen and authorities yesterday said they were trying to determine the amount, Derwey said.

The state Department of Public Safety's Narcotics Enforcement Division initiated the case in mid-July with help from the U.S. Postal Service and the U.S. Department of Treasury, said Ed Howard, an investigator for the narcotics enforcement division.

Authorities believe the alleged thefts have been going on for more than a year, Howard said.

The investigation revealed that the postal employee is allegedly a "hard addict" of crystal methamphetamine who allegedly stole the mail to feed a drug habit.

"In this particular case, evidence points to the fact that he was trying to make money or exchange these stolen pieces of mail in order to supply his habit," Howard said.

Authorities said the man faces felony drug charges involving illegal use, possession and possible distribution of crystal methamphetamine, and federal mail theft charges.

Howard said state law enforcement officials assisted in a federal search warrant at the man's Kapi'olani Boulevard apartment on July 22. Authorities found "evidence of drug use" and "drug paraphernalia" inside the home, Howard said.

Derwey said allegations of theft by postal workers occur rarely in Hawai'i and generally have involved temporary workers. She said investigators believed that the postal employee was working alone. Derwey described the postal employee as not very reliable at work, adding he went "AWOL a lot."

Possible mail theft can be reported to the U.S. Postal Service 423-3790, and mail safety tips can be found at www.usps.com.

Reach Brandon Masuoka at 535-8110, or e-mail at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.