Postal carrier blames ‘stupidity’ for thefts

A retired Hawaii island postal carrier pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Wednesday to two counts of stealing mail.

Albert Mamac Jr., 62, of Kailua-Kona, faces a maximum five-year prison term for each count at sentencing in February. He pleaded guilty to stealing mail while on the job at the Kailua-Kona Post Office in June and October 2010.

Mamac retired in February after more than 28 years as an employee of the U.S. Postal Service.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Hino said Mamac stole a letter containing a $250 Foodland Super Market gift card in June 2010. He said someone using Mamac’s wife’s frequent shopper card later redeemed the gift card at a Sack ‘N Save food store.

Hino said Mamac then stole a letter containing a $100 Target Stores gift card. He said Mamac’s daughter later redeemed the gift card in Reno, Nev.

A U.S. Postal Inspection Service special agent had placed the letter, which had an address not on Mamac’s route, among mail that Mamac was to deliver, Hino said.

When U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson asked Mamac what made him do it, Mamac said, "Stupidity. The envelope was open and the card was sticking out."

Son sentenced for taking dad’s credit cards

Kauai Circuit Judge Kathleen Watanabe sentenced a 40-year-old Hanamaulu man Wednesday to five years in prison for stealing and using his father’s credit cards from December to January.

On July 8, Matthew Madrid changed his plea from not guilty to no contest to unauthorized possession of confidential personal information and fraudulent use of a credit card.

According to a Kauai County prosecutor’s office news release, Madrid’s father ordered a new credit card when he realized the first one had been stolen. But Madrid stole the new card and continued making fraudulent purchases, the news release said.

In another case, Madrid pleaded no contest to promoting a dangerous drug. He is to be sentenced Nov. 14 in that case.