An Upstate New York postal worker has admitted to stealing cash, gift cards and more from the mail.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office of Western New York announced Thursday that Marlene Cruz, 40, of Rochester, pleaded guilty to theft of mail by an officer or employee of the U.S. Postal Service. She faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
An investigation began in January 2022 after the USPS received complaints that mail had been tampered with in late 2021. Cruz, a full-time mail carrier, worked the route involving the complaints.
Further investigation found Cruz routinely opened envelopes and parcels, removing items such as ticket stubs, documents, cash, lottery tickets, and gift cards, on dozens of occasions, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi.
Cruz was arrested Nov. 2, 2023, after “mail integrity tests” put greeting cards containing cash and gift cards in the mail she was set to deliver. At the end of her shift, a search warrant led to a gift card from one of the mail integrity test greeting cards inside Cruz’s personal duffel bag.
Cruz is scheduled to be sentenced in May.
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