Postal Worker Charged with Theft
A U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee has been accused of misappropriating both public and private funds.
Joyce Smith, a former postmaster aged 51, was arrested under suspicions of defrauding individuals of cash and government funds. Smith pled guilty to one charge of theft as a public servant.
According to court findings, Smith, who previously served in Scott City, Kansas, withdrew over $57,000 from USPS between January 2023 and February 2025.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas released documents stating that Smith’s primary income came from the regular services he provided. Many USPS customers frequently make check payments for various services, like permits and bulk mailing. While Smith accepted these checks and delivered the services, he didn’t document the payments in the USPS system.
These accepted payments accounted for the lion’s share of the stolen funds, totaling almost $40,000. This amount includes checks amounting to $16,788. Scott City, with a population exceeding 4,000, has a median income of around $54,800.
In addition to the payments from local businesses and government agencies, the audit uncovered that Smith also pocketed roughly $10,600 in cash from customers. Notably, he issued himself a money order for around $3,700 and allegedly embezzled an extra $3,400 from PO Box fees, racking up more than $57,400 in total stolen funds.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Krieghauser commented that Smith likely thought his role would enable him to keep “filling his pockets with money” without facing repercussions. He emphasized that such actions highlight the necessity of audits and robust oversight of financial records in governmental operations.
The USPS Inspector General’s Office is currently looking into the matter, acknowledging that the recent guilty plea resulted from the diligent efforts of the special agents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Special Agent in Charge Denas Bishop reiterated a commitment to “protecting the U.S. mail and ensuring the accountability and integrity of USPS employees.”
