Drug agents seek
postal employee

He allegedly stole mail to support
his crystal meth addiction

---

By Rod Antone
rantone@starbulletin.com

State narcotics enforcement officials said they are searching for an airport post office employee who allegedly stole mail to support his drug habit.

The 20-year postal worker was last seen by investigators two weeks ago and is believed to be living in Waikiki hotel rooms.

"We do want to locate and question him but are unable to do so right now," said narcotics agent Ed Howard.

"He's one of a thousand crystal methamphetamine addicts who are in a desperate situation and do desperate things in order to make money to buy drugs."

"It's just that his position is very unique."

Howard confirmed that during the course of a joint investigation involving the state and U.S. postal inspectors, agents recovered about 100 credit card personal identification numbers and dozens of credit cards and bank automated teller cards among the stolen mail.

Later, investigators also recovered several stolen U.S. Treasury checks in the form of federal income tax refunds.

The 45-year-old postal worker has been placed on emergency suspension without pay.

U.S. Postal Inspector Kathryn Derwey said anyone with concerns about whether their mail has been compromised may call her office to file a complaint at 423-3790.

"Members of the public have been calling up and are concerned about their mail," said Derwey. "We're trying to do the best we can to ensure the safety of the postal system, and we're committed to doing that.

"We have every intention of prosecuting this employee for mail theft."

Derwey said those whom investigators identify as victims of mail theft in this case will receive a letter from postal inspectors along with a separate notification from the U.S. attorney's office. In the meantime she suggests that people do some research of their own to determine if they have been affected.

"Always reconcile their bank and credit statements monthly," Derwey said.

Howard said some of the stolen credit cards had credit limits of up to $10,000. Investigators estimate that the suspect had been stealing mail for at least a year.

"He tried to sell the credit cards, he tried to trade them, he tried to activate them and use them himself," Howard said.

"Right now we're not sure how often he was successful.

"There's no doubt that this guy was desperate to continue feeding his habit."

Postal inspectors and narcotics agents executed a search warrant at the suspect's residence near Kapiolani Boulevard on July 22 where he lives with his 85-year-old mother. Howard said according to documents obtained during the search, the suspect had admitted himself into drug rehab a couple of years ago.