2 USPS employees arrested after phone theft operation in Gastonia

1 hour ago

Miles Ruder,

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USPS Phone Theft Bust (Courtesy: Gastonia Police Department)
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DeSean Hardiman
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Elijah Jefferies

GASTONIA, N.C. – Two United States Postal Service employees in Gastonia were arrested after allegedly stealing $18,000 worth of cell phones from packages and selling them, according to the Gastonia Police Department.

Police said DeSean Hardiman and Elijah Jefferies were employees at a USPS warehouse in Gastonia off Scaleybark Road.

While working, Hardiman and Jefferies would identify packages that had cell phones, according to police. They would open them, take the phones, and later sell them for cash.

Police began the six-month investigation after customers complained to USPS. Police said they recovered over 20 stolen phones with an estimated total loss of $18,000.

Hardiman is facing 10 felony charges including obtaining property under false pretenses, larceny by an employee, and conspiracy. Jefferies is facing four felonies of the same charges.