Postal supervisor used USPS credit cards to buy $65K in groceries, household

Authorities have arrested a postal supervisor who allegedly used credit cards issued to him by the U.S. Postal Service to buy $65,000 worth of personal items, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said.

Austin T. Mahan, 42, of the Cape May Court House section of Middle Township, is charged with misappropriation of postal funds. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ann Marie Danio in federal court Tuesday and was released on a $50,000 unsecured bond, officials said.

Mahan is accused of making the purchases at various retail stores between September 2022 and February 2023, according to a criminal complaint. At the time, he worked as a supervisor at the Sea Isle City and Somers Point post offices and had been issued a credit card by each location, which were intended for business expenses, according to the complaint.

His purchases included tens of thousands of dollars of gift cards, home décor, home improvement items, tools, car parts and various household and grocery items, charging documents said.

Officials did not say whether Mahan is still employed by the postal service.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and USPS could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.