San Jose: Postal inspector charged with stealing cash, valuables from mail

Source: SJ Mercury News

A senior San Jose postal inspector has been arrested on charges of stealing mail, including rare coins, cash, prescription pills, gun parts and other items from parcels that were torn open in transit, authorities said.

In a complaint filed in federal court in San Jose, investigators said Quan Pham Howard, 52, instructed employees at the U.S Postal Service's San Jose Processing and Distribution Center, to call his office or cell phone whenever valuable items were found loose in the mail, having become separated from packaging during processing.

Howard is charged with one count of delaying and destroying U.S. mail, two counts of theft of U.S. mail and possession of stolen U.S. mail.

In 2013 and 2014, employees notified Howard, a supervisor postal inspector, of such items multiple times, according to a criminal affidavit signed by special agent Christine Hodakievic of the Postal Service's Office of the Inspector General.

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_26043129/san-jose-postal-inspector-charged-stealing-cash-valuables