Mailman admits to stealing mail, gift cards

A third local U.S. Postal Service worker recently has been federally accused of stealing and using gift cards from mail he was supposed to deliver.

Charles Davis Jr., who worked as a city carrier assistant at the North Dayton Station U.S. Post Office, admitted to the crimes, according to a criminal complaint filed in Dayton’s U.S. District Court.

Davis faces a delay or destruction of mail charge, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He made his initial appearance in court Tuesday and was released on his own recognizance. A preliminary hearing was set for July 14.

An investigation into Davis began in mid-April after multiple complaints of missing mail on routes in zip codes 45403 and 45404.

“The complaints were all very similar in nature, as customers advised that they did not receive expected parcels or mail,” according to an affidavit written by Jodie Carr, a special agent in the post office’s Office of the Inspector General.

Carr sent a greeting card with a Target gift card worth $40 with a non-deliverable address with a return address. The card was not returned and the gift card was used about a week later at the Beavercreek Target store, the affidavit said. Surveillance video shows Davis and his young daughter making a purchase worth $39.03, according to the court document.

Another complaint from a customer showed they sent a birthday card with $60 in cash and $35 Walmart gift card that was never delivered. The affidavit said the gift card was used at two area Walmarts, one trip showing Davis’ mother driving from Walmart after a purchase.

While the affidavit said a couple of test gift card deliveries were handled correctly, stolen gift cards were found to have been used at Toys R Us and Walmart. A victim reported that a money order for $485 which was to pay for her brother’s rent wasn’t delivered along with the Walmart gift card.

A greeting card with $50 cash and a beeper device was put in Davis’ delivery stack and ended up in his personal vehicle. On May 19, agents stopped Davis with two greeting cards with cash or gift card and the beeper, the affidavit said. It further said Davis admitted to stealing mail, perhaps 20 to 25 gift cards and about $150 in cash.

Davis said he’d give some gift cards to his mother and that he had Visa Debit/Rewards card in someone else’s name and that he discarded money orders and checks because they would require identification to cash. A search of Davis’ vehicle revealed an additional 211 pieces of mail, including three gift cards, a money order and a Walmart credit card.

Two other area postal workers have been charged with similar crimes. James K. Hubbard, who worked at the Germantown and Farmersville post offices, was charged earlier this month with embezzling $14,600. Hubbard has a plea agreement hearing later this month.

Former Dayton postal worker Terrence P. Young pleaded guilty to stealing and using gift cards and not delivering mail. Young will be sentenced in September.

If mail-carrier theft is suspected, residents can contact the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General at: www.uspsoig.gov or call (888) USPS-OIG.

About the Author