A Detroit U.S. Postal Service employee is facing federal charges after an investigation revealed he stole checks from residents and businesses, depositing over $32,000 into his personal accounts.
The suspect, Austin Matthews, has been charged with mail theft, bank fraud, according to a federal complaint.
Matthews, who worked as a letter carrier, serving Ferndale and Detroit, allegedly used his position to intercept mail containing checks.
According to court documents, between April and August 2024, he stole tax refund and payroll checks intended for local residents and fraudulently deposited them into his own bank accounts, according to the criminal complaint.
The investigation began when the Washtenaw County Community College Police Department received a report in August 2024 about a stolen check that was fraudulently deposited into a Capital One account. It was later confirmed that the account belonged to Matthews, officials said.
Additional checks from other residents were also fraudulently deposited into his accounts. Complaints from Ferndale residents who hadn’t received their checks helped authorities piece together the scheme, federal agents said.
Using the mobile app, Matthews deposited checks by photographing them. Investigators traced the deposits to him through images showing his postal uniform, which was visible in the background of the photographs, the affidavit reads.
