Postal worker accused of stealing $100,000
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
A longtime U.S. Postal Service employee was arrested yesterday on charges he stole mail and dozens of U.S. Treasury checks valued at more than $100,000 while working at the Honolulu airport post office last summer.
Walter Hayashi, 46, was indicted by a federal grand jury this week on two counts of stealing and attempting to steal mail, four counts of possessing stolen mail, two counts of retaining and concealing stolen treasury checks, and one count of possession of unauthorized access devices.
In addition to treasury checks, Hayashi is accused of stealing credit cards, letters containing personal identification numbers for credit cards and bank cards, and letters containing Internet passwords to brokerage accounts.
Federal prosecutors and postal officials said the case was one of the more serious ones involving a postal employee.
"It's one of the more significant cases involving (a Postal Service) employee and the volume mail and the number of the checks that were involved," Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Nakamura said.
If convicted, Hayashi faces up to five years in prison and $250,000 fines on each of the six counts of stealing and possessing stolen mail, and 10 years and $250,000 fines on the three other charges.
Hayashi had been with the Postal Service for more than 20 years and was working as a distribution clerk at the airport post office when the thefts allegedly occurred from June 8 to July 23.
"Most of our employees are honest," said Kathryn Derwey, Postal Service inspector in charge. "But sometimes employees may take a wrong turn and get involved in behaviors that cause them to lose their judgment, and then they jeopardize their job and standing in the community and freedom."
Derwey said the investigation of Hayashi began with a tip that he was stealing mail. The probe ended in July and Hayashi was fired from his job soon after, she said.
Hayashi had access to "all the mail that came in through Hawai'i" and it was important to "get him away from the mail," Derwey said.
"It undermines the integrity of the Postal Service," she said. "We don't appreciate it and we take it very seriously and we investigate and get these people out."
Hayashi was caught with more than 50 treasury checks, including two tax refund checks of $34,578 and $11,157, the indictment said. About 20 checks were in excess of $1,000, according to the indictment.
The court document did not say what Hayashi is alleged to have done with the checks or other personal information.
Hayashi's trial is set for May 6 before U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway.
U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo praised the work of the Postal Inspection Service and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration for investigating the case.
Curtis Lum can be reached at 525-8025 or clum@honoluluadvertiser.com.
