Zerion Marcos Franklin, a U.S. Postal Service employee based in Fayetteville, North Carolina, has been sentenced to four years in prison for stealing $750,000 worth of treasury checks.
Franklin, who worked at the Fayetteville mail processing annex, was apprehended in June during a traffic stop where authorities uncovered 47 treasury checks made payable to individuals and entities other than Franklin.
Police Investigation Reveals Extensive Fraud
Investigators reported that the stolen checks were dated between April and May 2023 and included federal tax refunds, VA benefits, and other payments. Alongside the checks, police discovered drug paraphernalia, marijuana packaged for sale, a loaded 9mm handgun, and over $22,000 in cash.
A key witness from New Hanover County reported her tax refund check was stolen from the mail stream and altered to list Franklin as the payee. That check, valued at $4,400, was cashed at a Walmart in May.
