A North Carolina postal worker was sentenced to four years in prison for stealing over $750,000 in U.S. Treasury checks, including tax refunds, Veterans Affairs benefits, and Social Security disability payments.
Zerion Marcos Franklin, once entrusted with handling Americans’ most sensitive documents, was caught red-handed during a routine traffic stop in Fayetteville.
As a U.S. Postal Service employee at the Fayetteville mail processing annex, Franklin systematically intercepted Treasury checks destined for hard-working Americans, including elderly recipients and veterans. His greed extended to altering stolen checks to cash them for personal gain.
According to the news release, in June 2024, Fayetteville police officers stopped Franklin’s vehicle and noticed drug paraphernalia in plain view. A subsequent search revealed not only 47 U.S. Treasury checks but also marijuana packaged for sale, a loaded 9mm handgun, and over $22,000 in cash. These checks represented lifelines for citizens awaiting crucial benefits.
Among the victims was an elderly New Hanover County resident whose tax refund check was stolen, altered to bear Franklin’s name, and cashed at a Fayetteville Walmart.
Hellbound and Down 