Hidden camera captures mail carrier stealing stimulus checks, investigators say

[left-of-center2012]

A U.S. Postal Service letter carrier was arrested Thursday for allegedly stealing credit cards and federal stimulus checks on his Essex County delivery route after some of his thefts were captured on a hidden camera, according to authorities.
Parrish Brookins, 29, of East Orange, was charged with one count of mail theft by a Postal Service officer or employee, New Jersey Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said in a statement.

Credit cards mailed to addresses on postal routes in Verona and Montclair were stolen January through July when Brookins was working the routes, the statement said. Brookins and others activated the cards to make or attempt fraudulent purchases at various retailers, authorities alleged. Brookins also pilfered stimulus checks issued by the U.S. Treasury Department to addresses in Verona, authorities said.

As part of the investigation, investigators with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service obtained a search warrant to access the Instagram account of an unnamed person who was arrested with stolen mail in his car in July, according to court documents. Through that individual’s Instagram account, investigators found “numerous conversations involving several Instagram users regarding stolen mail as well as a group conversation discussing stimulus checks issued by the United States Treasury,” a criminal complaint filed in the case stated.
One person posted a photo showing 21 stolen U.S. Treasury checks, 18 of which were intended for Verona residences covered by Brookins.

Agents installed a hidden camera in the postal vehicle driven by Brookins, the complaint stated. That footage showed him “apparently stealing Treasury checks” and putting the mail in his pocket. If convicted of mail theft, Brookins could face a maximum possible five year prison term and $250,000 fine.

https://www.nj.com/essex/2021/12/hidden-camera-captures-mail-carrier-stealing-stimulus-checks-in-nj-investigators-say.html

[mahina]

1. When did prison terms get so short for the real bad guys?

[CrispyQ]

2. When it became easier to bust & convict someone for a pot seed in their car ashtray?

Some of the sentences to the Jan 6 rioters, who were actually in the building but claiming they weren't violent, have been very lenient, IMO. If you were in the building, you were part of the insurrection, you were part of the reason government business had to be shut down.

[LiberalFighter]

3. I strongly urge everyone to sign up for Informed Delivery.

https://informeddelivery.usps.com/box/pages/intro/start.action

It allows you to keep track of mail being delivered to your home. You will know what mail is expected to be delivered and even when you will not be receiving mail for that day and not have to waste time going to your mailbox to check it out.

For me, I always go out to the mailbox on Tuesdays even if there won't be any mail showing up from Informed Delivery because the weekly ads are received that day.

[left-of-center2012]

4. I have been using that for about a year

It's a great service

[MineralMan]

5. Yes. My wife signed us up for that. I like it, even if it means

that I know there's nothing worthwhile in the mail that day. Our mailbox is in a pod of mailboxes in our development. We routinely take our dogs out at 3PM and pick up the mail there. It's nice to know if there will be packages, so we can bring a tote along.

[LiberalFighter]

6. And keep a closer eye out for any important mail.

[IbogaProject]

7. These ridiculous low sentences 'cause drugs are the real danger

These ridiculous low sentences are 'cause drugs are the real danger and that is one of a select justice priorities. The authorities hate drugs as they make people more open to sharing, at least the 'soft' drugs. The hard ones are money makers and they demand a large labor pool to police along with military and contractors many who vote conservative against their class interests. Now if he robbed rich people he would be facing much more time.