Garden Grove man receives mail 2 years late; mail carrier fired

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (KABC) -- When a Garden Grove resident checked his mail Tuesday, he found a stack of envelopes that took him by surprise.

"Five or six checks totaling over $1,500 that I should have received in 2012 and 2013," said Doug Beard.

There were also gas, electric and car insurance bills, and even his son's report card-- all postmarked from the last two years.

A letter from the postal service explained mail had been found in a dumpster and at the home of a mail carrier. The USPS said that person has been fired and now faces federal prosecution. Beard wishes he knew that sooner.

"I think the postal service should have stepped up to the plate and at least advised, if possible," he said.

Beard owns a pool cleaning business, and one of the checks in the stack was from a client.

When the payment didn't arrive on time, he suspended service.

"Two months later, I was terminated from that account, which is probably about a $10,000 a year, maybe $15,000 a year income," he said.

The office of the inspector general is handling the investigation. A spokesman sent a statement to Eyewitness News:

"Our office has been working with federal prosecutors to release the mail and ensure the investigation was not compromised in doing so. It's still an ongoing investigation."

Beard's parents, who live on the same street, also received a stack of old mail and the same letter.