Former Postal Worker Forged Checks, Stole Mail: Charges

ATLANTA, GA — A former postal employee has been arraigned on federal charges related to the burglary of a post office, theft of mail and forged checks. Zachary Johnson, 41, of Snellville, was indicted on Aug. 16, according to a release from the Department of Justice's Northern District of Georgia.

U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak and charging documents say that on June 26, Johnson was captured on surveillance footage allegedly cashing a forged check in a Loganville bank.

Then, on June 28, prosecutors allege, he attempted to cash another forged check at a Snellville bank. "Alert bank employees at Regions Bank recognized that the account holder’s signature looked suspicious, and called their customer to confirm whether he had written the check," the release said.

Bank employees learned the check was forged and called Snellville police. Johnson was arrested and later released on bond.

While out on bond, Johnson allegedly stole letters and packages from a Snellville U.S. Post Office. Police later found "a large quantity of stolen mail" in Johnson's car, the release said.

“Johnson allegedly abused his position as a former postal employee to exploit the U.S. mail system in order to steal identities and commit bank fraud, said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “We are determined to safeguard our citizens from identify theft, as well as protecting the integrity of the postal and banking systems from these types of schemes.”

Johnson is being charged with bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, possession of stolen mail, postal burglary and mail theft. The U.S. Postal Service is investigating the case.

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