Chattanooga: Former postal worker gets suspended sentence

Monday, February 25, 2013

A federal judge sentenced a former U.S. Postal Service postal worker to three years' probation and a $10,000 fine for stealing painkillers from a veteran on his mail route.

U.S. District Court Judge Harry "Sandy" Mattice sentenced 53-year-old Michael Murdock this morning.

Murdock pleaded guilty on Nov. 1 to one of nine counts against him for stealing Veterans Affairs-prescribed hydrocodone tablets from a parcel intended for Liggie Arthur Phelps of Petersburg, Tenn. He had faced up to five years in prison.

Murdock had worked for the post office for about 14 years.

Court documents showed seven instances in which Murdock took the medications he was supposed to deliver and stated he stole $11,562 under his control while working at the post office.