Postal worker sentenced for Best Buy theft

A former postal worker was sentenced to 37 months in prison on Wednesday for stealing Best Buy Reward Zone certificates from the mail.

Douglas A. Parkes, Jr. had pled guilty to the charges last year.

Parkes, 50, admitted that he stole over 15,000 Best Buy Reward Zone certificates from June 2007 to October 2008 while working at a postal processing and distribution center in Minneapolis. He used the certificates to buy $194,210 worth of merchandise.

"This case sends a clear message that stealing mail is a very serious crime and will not be tolerated," said David Montoya, a special agent with the Office of Inspector General, in a statement released Wednesday.

Judge Donovan Frank also ordered Parkes to make full restitution to Best Buy.

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