Tuesday, April 22, 2003 A four-month investigation into mail theft and forgery ended yesterday with the arrest of a part-time mail carrier and pizza deliveryman. According to Sheriff Ted Paxton, James Michael Hardy, 47, of Cumming, was arrested and faces multiple charges including 19 counts of Forgery, 6 counts of Theft by Taking, 1 count of Identity Theft, 1 count of Theft by Receiving and 1 count of Possession of Marijuana less than one ounce. Sheriff Paxton said that the investigation began when residents of The Hamptons Golf Course community filed reports of checks missing from their mail. Some of the checks were later forged and processed through a local Pizza Hut restaurant. Investigators with the Sheriff's Office then began checking backgrounds of the employees who had access to the cash registers. That investigation revealed that Hardy, who was a part-time pizza delivery driver, was also employed as a substitute mail carrier at the Cumming Post Office for the past two years. Investigators then contacted the United States Postal Inspectors and a joint investigation was launched. As this investigation progressed, detectives learned of additional mail theft complaints in the Chattahoochee River Club subdivision. Postal Inspectors and Sheriff's Office detectives waited until Hardy was scheduled to deliver mail in the Chattahoochee River Club and set up an undercover surveillance of Hardy. As a result of that surveillance, Hardy was caught "red-handed" as he was rifling through mail and opening some items. He was immediately arrested. Hardy remains in the Forsyth County Jail in lieu of a $31,058 bond. Federal charges are also pending in the case. "The arrest of Hardy was the result of solid police work," said Capt. Ron Freeman, Commander of the Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division. "I cannot praise our investigators and the U.S. Postal Inspectors enough," he added. "The cooperation between our agencies was impressive and the Postal authorities were professional and eager to help." Residents of The Hamptons and Chattahoochee River Club who suspect they may have been a victim of mail theft are encouraged to call Criminal Investigations Division at (770) 781-2200. |
