BARTOW — A former Lakeland mail carrier has pleaded guilty to charges that he took a check from the mailbox of a resident on his route and cashed it, court records show.
Surveillance video at an Amscot location in Lakeland identified Jason Foster II, 25, as the person who cashed the $55 check, reports stated. source
Last month, Ms. Z filled out an order form for some postage stamps, and sent it, along with a personal check for $55 to the U.S. Postmaster. The stamps never came.
Then Ms. Z checked her checking account and saw that her check had been cashed.
The detective investigating this case went to the store where the check was cashed and viewed security video of the transaction and learned that the man who cashed the check was a man named Jason.
How did this happen?
Jason stole Ms. Z’s check when she mailed it. It was easy for Jason to do this since he was Ms. Z’s postal carrier.
Okay, but how did Jason cash a check made out to the U.S. Postmaster?
Jason showed the cashier his Florida Driver License and his U.S. Postal Badge, and explained to her that a customer had ordered stamps and he fulfilled the order for her (which we know that he did not).
Jason’s ruse was convincing, and the check was cashed. After all, nobody would be crazy enough to put a good career on the line by stealing $55 while showing their own real identification and providing their own signature. Right?
We’re thinking Jason may not have thoroughly thought out this crime.
He was easily caught, no longer has a job working for the U.S. Postal Service, and now has two felonies and a misdemeanor.
Jason was delivered to the jail post haste.
His temporary forwarding address is:
Jason Not The Postmaster
Crossbar Hotel, Cell #32
Bartow, Florida 33830
On a serious note, we have a great relationship with the US Postal Service. They have an amazing group of people who work there—especially here in Polk County. Their investigators are top notch. This one guy does not at all reflect the USPS.
source: Polk County Sheriff Office