San Jose postal inspector indicted on mail theft charges

A San Jose postal inspector has been indicted on federal charges for mail theft.

Quan Pham Howard, 51, is charged with possession of stolen U.S. mail, delay and destruction of U.S. mail and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

According to federal court records, Howard was a supervisory postal inspector working at the San Jose Processing and Distribution Center.

He was arrested June 26 after an investigation.

According to the indictment, between April 2012 and June 25 of this year, Howard is accused of unlawfully opening and taking mail belonging to other people — some of which contained prescription drugs. He’s accused of having a number of items that had been stolen from the mail distribution center — including a gun scope, jewelry, a Rolex watch and gift cards. He’s also charged with having more than eight kilograms of marijuana.

Howard is scheduled for arraignment in federal court in San Jose on Aug. 1.

If convicted, he could face as much as five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.