Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse postal worker was handcuffed and confronted after being seen on surveillance camera stuffing mail down his pants, according to a criminal complaint.
Jason M. Powell removed the mail from his pants while in custody and admitted hiding it so he could open it later and steal its contents, according to Special Agent Sean Perkins, of the U.S. Post Office Inspector General’s Office.
The investigation began after a Syracuse resident complained to the post office in October 2020 that his mail had been opened and was missing a gift card, Perkins wrote in an affidavit. That mail was traced back to the Syracuse Processing and Distribution Center during a time Powell was working.
Others at the center described Powell’s “furtive” behavior while processing mail, Perkins continued. So agents set up a surveillance camera on Dec. 4, 2020 to watch Powell as he worked.
“As reflected on the surveillance footage, Powell took a yellow greeting card from a pile of mail and placed it in the front of his pants,” Perkins wrote. “He also partially tore the flap of another piece of mail in two locations before sending it along for processing. Powell then removed an additional two mail pieces from the sorting line and placed those down the front of his pants...”
That’s when Perkins and another law enforcement official moved in, handcuffing Powell and taking him to the Inspector General’s Office inside the facility, the affidavit continues.
After waiving his constitutional rights, “Powell removed the mail pieces from his pants and agreed to an interview,” Perkins wrote.
Powell admitted having hidden mail in a similar fashion during previous shifts, looking for gift cards or cash, Perkins wrote.
Powell was charged with a federal misdemeanor of obstruction of mails. He faces up to six months in jail if convicted.
Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or 315-470-6070.
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