Mailbox Money Order Thefts Traced To Ex-Postal Worker, Deputies Say

BRADENTON, FL — A former employee of the Bradenton Post Office is in hot water after Manatee County deputies say they unraveled his alleged scheme to cash in on his job illegally. The arrest of Deshawn Keels, 24, on forgery and grand theft charges was announced Friday.

According to the sheriff’s office, the case against Keels resulted from three victims who reported delivering money orders to a mail drop box outside the 5910 Post Blvd. post office in Bradenton. The money orders totaled $1,823 combined, a Friday email from the sheriff’s office said.

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“It was later discovered that their mail was intercepted and altered before being cashed,” the email said. Keels is accused of “bleaching” the money orders to remove the payee names and then inserting his own. The thefts, the sheriff’s office said, occurred over a three-month period.

Keels, the agency said, is no longer employed by the post office. It is unclear at this time if there are other victims. Anyone with information, however, is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 941-747-3011 or Crime Stoppers at 866-634-TIPS.

Keels was formally charged with three counts of forgery and three counts of theft on July 14.

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Photo courtesy of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office