TEMPLE, Maine — A local post office employee is facing charges after using a gift card and taking cash she found by opening other people’s mail, officials said.
Amanda Wentzell, 25, is facing charges of theft by unauthorized taking and misuse of identification, both Class D crimes, according to Franklin County Sheriff Scott Nichols. Wentzell was summoned but not arrested.
The investigation ensued in the first week of July when police were notified of a lost or stolen pre-paid credit card, Nichols said.
The card had been intended as a graduation gift and had never arrived at its location, but had been activated and used, according to Nichols.
Investigative efforts determined Wentzell had activated and used the card, and she also admitted to seven separate thefts involving small amounts of cash and other gift cards to restaurants and retail locations, Nichols said.
“These incidents not only involved incoming but also outgoing mail from Temple to out-of-town locations,” the sheriff said.
Wentzell also confessed to opening mail hoping to find cash and throwing it away upon discovering it contained a check, Nichols said.
Anyone who suspects they may have been a victim is urged to call Detective Ken Charles at 778-2680.
The office of the inspector general of the U.S. Postal Service has been informed of the case and has been in contact with Charles.
Wentzell faces up to a year in jail if convicted of each crime.
