MADISON — A former La Crosse postal employee who the government says may have stolen mail from at least 7,800 people pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to mail theft.
a Crosse police arrested Cain after he was observed taking mail from a La Crosse post office to his private vehicle, Elgersma told Conley.
Cain told authorities that he focused on taking greeting cards from the mail and diverted mail for about three to four weeks to “feed his heroin habit,” Elgersma said.
More stolen mail — including 25 gift cards and 25 football cards — was recovered during a search of his apartment, including the letter that contained the Fleener football card, Elgersma said
According to the US Attorney’s office:
Justin Cain was a postal employee in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He was suspected of stealing mail from the post office after he sold a stolen baseball card to a local vender. On October 18, 2013, federal agents made a controlled purchase of 23 purported gift cards from Cain. Three days later, on October 21, 2013, Cain was arrested by officers from the La Crosse Police Department with mail in his vehicle. During an interview with law enforcement officers, Cain admitted to stealing mail in order to feed his heroin addiction. Cain told investigators the stolen mail pieces were burned after items of value where removed.