18 U.S.C. Sec. 1709 THEFT OF MAIL BY OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE is a federal law that makes it a crime for any officer or employee of the United States Postal Service (USPS) to steal, embezzle, or otherwise misappropriate any mail entrusted to them. This includes any mail that the USPS is responsible for delivering or handling, or any mail that is in transit through the mail system. The law applies to both U.S. Postal Service employees and any other federal employees who are responsible for delivering or handling the mail. Types of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1709 THEFT OF MAIL BY OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE include: 1. Theft of mail by USPS employees or officers; 2. Embezzlement of mail by USPS employees or officers; 3. Misappropriation of mail by USPS employees or officers; 4. Delaying or destroying mail by USPS employees or officers; and 5. Taking or using mail entrusted to USPS employees or officers for any purpose other than delivering or processing the mail.