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SALT LAKE CITY — A former postal worker who resigned in April is now facing a federal indictment after being accused of keeping postal service keys to steal more than 500 pieces of mail, including personal checks, gift cards and a $500 money order.
Jacob ... would prefer to steal mail on a Sunday night due to the fact that the mail in the collection boxes was not picked up on Sundays.
–Court document
Jacob MacFarlane, 36, of Draper, was named in a federal indictment on charges of bank fraud, theft of mail and theft of stolen postal service keys after being accused of taking mail from U.S. Post Office drop boxes throughout Salt Lake County.
In total, MacFarlane told investigators he stole mail on approximately 25 separate occasions. More than 500 pieces of mail were recovered from the man's vehicle and home.
"Jacob stated that he would prefer to steal mail on a Sunday night due to the fact that the mail in the collection boxes was not picked up on Sundays and would therefore contain a large amount of mail," a court document states. "Jacob stated that he was primarily looking for gift cards and cash."
Postal inspectors say MacFarlane admitted to stealing a number of gift cards, including at least 10-15 he gave to his ex-wife as a form of child support payment.
The woman said she had no idea any of the cards were stolen until authorities contacted her friend who had used one on a joint purchase at Kohl's.
A Salt Lake City couple had mailed the $30 gift card to a family member in California and reported it stolen after it never arrived.
MacFarlane is also accused of taking $500 from a West Valley City man, who had sent a Money Gram money order through the mail to a company in Provo. When the company said they never received payment, he went to where he had purchased the money order and was told it had been cashed at a Check City.
Jacob MacFarlane's name had been written over the name of the company, according to court documents.
"Jacob stated that he normally doesn't use stolen checks or money orders, but he needed the money and cashed the money order in his own name."
The indictment shows MacFarlane stole at least three personal checks, each amounting to $50.
MacFarlane told postal inspectors he had kept one of the postal services keys he used in the alleged thefts after his resignation. He stole a second key from a sister who is still employed with the U.S. Postal Service.
The man was arraigned in federal court Thursday and ordered to remain in federal custody pending trial.
E-mail: emorgan@desnews.com
