Corrupt Postal Worker Sentenced to Four Years in Prison After Stealing Over $750K in U.S. Treasury Checks, Federal Authorities Reveal

A North Carolina postal worker was sentenced to four years in prison for stealing over $750,000 in U.S. Treasury checks, including tax refunds, Veterans Affairs benefits, and Social Security disability payments.

Zerion Marcos Franklin, once entrusted with handling Americans’ most sensitive documents, was caught red-handed during a routine traffic stop in Fayetteville.

As a U.S. Postal Service employee at the Fayetteville mail processing annex, Franklin systematically intercepted Treasury checks destined for hard-working Americans, including elderly recipients and veterans. His greed extended to altering stolen checks to cash them for personal gain.

According to the news release, in June 2024, Fayetteville police officers stopped Franklin’s vehicle and noticed drug paraphernalia in plain view. A subsequent search revealed not only 47 U.S. Treasury checks but also marijuana packaged for sale, a loaded 9mm handgun, and over $22,000 in cash. These checks represented lifelines for citizens awaiting crucial benefits.

Among the victims was an elderly New Hanover County resident whose tax refund check was stolen, altered to bear Franklin’s name, and cashed at a Fayetteville Walmart.

Read the full news release below:

 Zerion Marcos Franklin was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release after stealing over $750,000 in treasury checks.  Franklin was also ordered to pay restitution to the United States Treasury.

“Our American postal service is a public trust, staffed with civil servants bound to prioritize the public’s interests above personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr.

“Most postal employees honor their oath, faithfully delivering billions of parcels every year.  This postal employee is the rare exception, stealing three quarters of a million dollars in U.S. Treasury funds, including tax refunds, from the mail and robbing hardworking American taxpayers in the process.  The consequence is clear:  steal mail, face prison.”

“We appreciate the outstanding effort by both our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice,” said Kathleen Woodson, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Office of the Inspector General (USPS-OIG).

“The vast majority of Postal Service employees are honest, hardworking individuals who would not violate the public’s trust in this manner. An employee who decides otherwise, will be aggressively investigated by OIG Special Agents.

This case serves as an excellent example of the successful collaboration between our federal and state law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to pursue and prosecute Postal Service employees.”

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Franklin was a United States Postal Service employee at the mail processing annex in Fayetteville.

In June 2024, the Fayetteville Police Department conducted a traffic stop of Franklin’s vehicle.  After observing drug paraphernalia in plain view, officers conducted a search of the vehicle.

During the search, officers located 47 U.S. Treasury checks made payable to entities and individuals other than the defendant.  The checks, which were dated between April and May of 2023, included federal tax refunds, VA benefits, and social security disability benefits.

Officers also located marijuana packaged for sale, a loaded 9mm handgun, and over $22,000 in U.S. currency.

Shortly after the traffic stop, an elderly victim in New Hanover County reported the theft of her tax refund check.  It was later revealed that the check was stolen from the mail stream, altered to reflect Franklin’s name as the payee, and cashed at a Walmart in Fayetteville on or about May 3, 2023.

In total, investigators determined that Franklin stole U.S. Treasury checks totaling over $750,000.

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