Kirk Baird, 42, of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, is facing federal charges for ripping off the U.S. mail system. The postal employee was indicted January 18, 2017, in United States District Court in Sioux City on one count of theft of mail matter by a postal worker.
The indictment lays out a cold theft operation: from August 2016 to October 20, 2016, Baird allegedly siphoned letters, postal cards, and packages entrusted to the U.S. Postal Service. Worse, he didn’t just pocket the mail—he stripped it. Cash, gift cards, and other valuables were ripped from envelopes and taken for his own use, according to federal prosecutors.
This wasn’t a one-off grab. The charges paint a pattern of theft, with Baird using his position to access and pilfer items meant for delivery. Federal authorities say he “embezzled, abstracted, and removed” contents with clear intent to convert them into personal gain—betraying both the public and the institution that employed him.
“The agency considers the aforementioned allegations to be a very serious matter,” said Special Agent in Charge Joanne Yarbrough of the Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General (OIG), Western Area Field Office. “When these types of allegations are made, OIG Special Agents vigorously investigate these matters, as was done in this instance.”
If convicted, Baird faces up to 5 years in federal prison without parole, a $250,000 fine, a mandatory $100 special assessment, and up to one year of supervised release. His arraignment is scheduled for February 2, 2017, in Sioux City federal court.
The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jamie Bowers and investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations. As with all criminal cases, the charge is an accusation—Baird is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Court records: Case No. CR17-4001 at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. Follow @USAO_NDIA for updates.
Related Federal Cases
- Iowa Bank Collapse: Citizens Bank Taken Over by Iowa Trust & Savings · Iowa
- Iowa Duo Pleads Guilty in Neb. Robbery Plot · Iowa
- Iowa Man Sentenced to Over 16 Years for Methamphetamine Manufacturing · Iowa
- Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced for False Statement to Postal Inspector · Iowa
- Iowa Man Charged with Federal Meth Distribution · Iowa
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
