NEW YORK – A United States postal worker has been arrested for allegedly stealing checks from Costco’s notorious “Rewards” program from the Long Island mail facility where he worked, authorities say.
Gerome Fowler is accused of stealing $7,000 in loyalty program checks, but investigators say they tracked up to $70,000. According to Suffolk County officials, Fowler took Costco reward checks from the Bay Shore facilities that employed him and spent them at Costcos in Holbrook, Nesconset, Commack, Melville and Riverhead.
Ultimately, it was a crafty Costco worker who reported him to the authorities. Police say the worker noticed that Fowler was using a lot of reward checks and that he always wore a postal service uniform.
Police say anyone in the affected communities who thinks they may be losing their Costco loyalty program rewards should call the wholesaler.
Special Agent Steven Vargas of the USPS Office of Inspector General sharply condemned the allegations at a news conference early Tuesday, calling mail theft a “serious crime” that carries “serious consequences” and will not be tolerated.
“The hard work of the hundreds of thousands of postal employees should not be overshadowed by those who choose to compromise their integrity for personal gain,” Vargas said.
Information on an attorney for Fowler was not immediately available.
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