A Southeast Queens postal worker was arrested by federal agents on Thursday morning and criminally charged with mail theft after he was caught on camera stuffing stolen letters in his pants at a U.S. Postal Service facility in Suffolk County.
Michael Rodriguez, 36, of Cambria Heights, made his initial appearance before a judge hours later at Central Islip Federal Court, where he was charged on a criminal complaint for “knowingly and intentionally” embezzling letters, packages, and other mail at the Huntington Station Processing and Distribution Center where he has worked as a processing clerk since last August.
According to the complaint, between January and March of this year, Rodriguez was seen on surveillance camera footage taking first-class mail and priority mail envelopes from the automated mail stream, putting the items into his pants, and then leaving the facility on multiple occasions. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and other law enforcement agencies are currently investigating Rodriguez and others in connection with a ring that has been illegally cashing checks and using money orders stolen from the Huntington Station Processing and Distribution Center.
Rodriguez appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lee Dunst and was released on his own recognizance. The federal investigation remains ongoing.
