Officials say USPS worker hoarded over 17,000 pieces of mail

A United States Postal Service worker who prosecutors say hoarded away over 17,000 pieces of undelivered mail in New York City allegedly told investigators he was overwhelmed by the amount of mail he had to deliver.

Aleksey Germash was charged in Brooklyn on Thursday with delaying or detaining mail. He declined to comment as he left the federal courthouse.

Federal officials say they arrested the 16-year employee after receiving a tip about a car owned by Germash that contained 20 full mail bags.

Investigators say Germash said he took mail to his car and apartment, and that he told them he “made sure to deliver the important mail.”

Authorities say they found 10,000 pieces of mail in his car, 6,000 pieces in his apartment and 1,000 in his work locker.