The Postal Inspection Service based its claim on Petitioner's alleged theft of a registered mail pouch while he worked as a distribution clerk at the Marietta, Georgia Post Office. A hearing was held in Marietta and Trion, Georgia. The registered pouch was placed in a BMC container with other mail bound for the Marietta Post Office. The BMC container reached Marietta, but the registered pouch was never delivered to the registry cage or recovered by the Postal Service. During that period, registered mail was not always handled correctly at the Marietta Post Office, with some drivers leaving the registered pouches on the dock, and distribution clerks or others eventually bringing the mail to the registry cage.
Petitioner denies stealing the pouch.
He argues that Respondent has not proven that the pouch ever reached the Marietta Post Office and that, even assuming it did, many other persons were present on the dock the morning the pouch disappeared, and they had the same opportunity to steal the pouch that he did. Petitioner points out that all of the evidence against him originated with his ex-wife, and he contends that she is not to be believed because she did not come forward immediately when she allegedly became aware of Petitioner's actions and that her testimony is part of her effort to harm Petitioner because of the bitter divorce between them. However, if Ms. Crane's testimony is believed, it is very unlikely that someone other than Petitioner took the pouch. Resolution of this case, therefore, turns on whether the testimony of Petitioner or Ms. Crane is believed. For the reasons discussed below, I have accepted Ms. Crane's testimony, and, where inconsistent, I have rejected Petitioner's.