USPS Employee Sentenced to Four Years for Stealing 750,000 in Disability, Tax Refund and Social Security Checks
A federal court sentenced Zerion Marcos Franklin to 48 months in prison for stealing $750,000 in U.S. Treasury checks. Photo credit: Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department.
In addition to the 48-month prison sentence, Franklin was ordered to serve three years of supervised release and will have to pay restitution to the United States Treasury Department.
Employed as a Postal Worker
Franklin was employed by the U.S. Postal Service in May 2023, according to the indictment. During his employment, citizens in and around Franklin’s mail route still received refund checks from the U.S. Treasury’s Office from filing their income tax returns for 2022.
Traffic Stop Resulting in Arrest
Fayetteville Police Department officers stopped Franklin in his car on June 6, 2023, according to the indictment.
According to the testimony of the police officers, they spotted “drug paraphernalia in plain view” while speaking with Franklin during the traffic stop. After spotting the drug paraphernalia, the officers exercised their authority to conduct a full search of Franklin’s car, according to prosecutors.
During the search, the officers reported locating 47 checks issued from the United States Treasury, according to the DOJ press release, citing sealed court documents. The checks were reported to have been payable to people and business entities other than Franklin.
The checks the officers found in Franklin’s car were reported to be VA benefits, social security disability and federal tax refund checks, all issued by the Treasury Department, according to the DOJ press release. The checks were reported to be dated between April and May 2023.
Fayetteville Police Department Offers also reported marijuana packages they alleged were for resale, as well as a loaded 9mm handgun and over $22,000 in cash, according to the DOJ press release.
Check From Neighboring District Reported Stolen
A little while after the traffic stop, although prosecutors do not specify the exact dates, an elderly lady in New Hanover County, which is not the same county Fayetteville is in, reported her federal tax refund check stolen, according to the DOJ press release. Investigators later found that the refund check had been stolen from the mailing system.
The check had been cashed at a Walmart in Fayetteville on May 3, 2023, to someone with Franklin’s name, according to the DOJ press release. After a full investigation, still covered under sealed court documents, Franklin was accused of stealing 47 checks totaling over $750,000, according to the DOJ press release.
The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) reported 1,200 mail theft cases and 1,559 arrests between March 2020 and February 2021 in their 2023 annual report. This was a 161% increase from the 12 months prior.
More From This Author
South Korean CEO Indicted in U.S. for Deceiving Investors
Report Jessika Saunders | Feb 7, 2025
Wannabe Hizballah Recruit Indicted for Lying to the FBI
Report Jessika Saunders | Feb 6, 2025
City of Antioch and Antioch PD to Implement Reforms After Racist Text Messages
Report Jessika Saunders | Feb 6, 2025
Weekly Muck
Join the mission and subscribe to our newsletter. In exchange, we promise to fight for justice.
Weekly
Muck
Join the mission and subscribe to our newsletter. In exchange, we promise to fight for justice.
