This incident goes back several years. Be there a statue of limitations, so be it. My big mistake then was not going directly to the federal bureau of investigation, instead of directing my attention to the united states postal inspectors. My problem began with a purchase of a $200.00 money order in the Akron, Oh. Post office, my guess is late 1999 or early 2000. I purchased and mailed the money order and letter during that same visit. The money order was to my son in a correctional institution (prison if you will) in the state of Colorado. I had been sending him money in this format for several years. Since the time lapse is usually 5 days from the mailing point to the institution, I was alarmed when he wrote to me 10 days later, and mentioned to me that he had not received the letter or money order. I had him check with the institution mail officer, and I would check with the postal service on my end.
The institution reported to my son that they never received a money order for him, otherwise they would have "logged in" same. When I contacted the P.O.in Akron, Oh, they directed me to contact the nearest postal inspector, in the Cleveland, Oh office. Upon initial contact with the Cleveland office, I was told that the burden was on me to contact the postal service in St. Louis, Mo. I wrote St. Louis, they responded by sending me a photo copy of the money order, which had been cashed, NOT DEPOSITED. The money order had been cashed at a Cuban Bank, in Miami, Florida. Had my son broken out of prison, and moved to Miami? Was he paroled for good behavior, and never told me about his good fortune? No, after calling the institutional mail officer at the prison, he assured me that my son was still a guest, and his rent was paid up for several years. More importently, the institution never allows the inmate to sign any money orders, they rubber stamp the back of same with the words "deposit to inmate account". When I purchased the money order, I made it payable to my son, in MY handwriting! The individual who cashed it (forged it I should say) duplicated my handwriting with my sons name. This prompted me to notify the postal inspector in Cleveland of my findings. Three days later, he called me, and after hearing of my results, asked me to photocopy all documents, and send them off to him. That being done, I waited the three weeks that he requested, and contacted him back. He had nothing to report, and requested an additional "time out" so he can go more in depth with this matter. I never heard back from him again. I called back after 60 days, and was told that he had retired. I spoke with the new postal inspector, and he informed me that he knew absolutely nothing about my problem, but if I would photocopy all documents, and send them to him, he would get right on it. So, once again, I xeroxed everything I had, and forwarded them to the new postal inspector in Cleveland. I called several days later to verify that he received same, and was assured that he did. One month later, nothing! Two months later, nothing! So, once again, I call Cleveland, and am told by the New postal inspector, that the guy I was dealing with, had transferred to another duty station. How about that, what a great job, what great fringe benefits! Anyway, of course the NEW postal inspector (a lady this time) knew nothing about my problem, but asked me to copy all my documents, and send them along to her, and she would handle the situation. Well, after 4 years now, I think the USPO Postal Inspector didnt want to open a can of worms, or better yet, they want me to go away. Is there a organized theft ring inside the USPS, or are they really this incompetent? All I ever wanted was my $200.00 returned!
Michael
fort mohave, Arizona
U.S.A.
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