Houston postal worker admits to mail theft

Associated Press - July 25, 2008 7:25 AM ET HOUSTON (AP) - A federal worker who repaired U.S. Postal Service collection boxes in Houston faces prison for stealing mail. Prosecutors in Houston say 38-year-old Frank Salazar pleaded guilty to two counts of mail theft. He's free on bond pending sentencing Oct. 14. Salazar faces a maximum five years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine on each conviction. Salazar, who pleaded guilty Thursday, had worked as a U.S. Postal Service field maintenance mechanic since March 2001. The undercover investigation began in December when more than 90 pieces of opened mail turned up in a trash can outside a drug store. Security video from the CVS store helped identify Salazar as the driver of a postal truck who carried items to the same trash can where the stolen mail... [read full story]