Mail Carrier Who Hoarded 17,000 Pieces of Mail Said He Delivered the 'Important Mail'

A postal worker who police say hoarded away more than 17,000 pieces of undelivered mail in New York City allegedly told investigators he was overwhelmed by the amount of mail he had to deliver.

The 16-year veteran of the department Aleksey Germash, 53,  told officials that he "made sure to deliver the important mail."

He was charged Thursday in Brooklyn with delaying or detaining mail.

Federal officials say they arrested the employee after receiving a tip about a car owned by the teen that contained 20 full mail bags, the Associated Press reported.

Authorities also said they found 10,000 pieces of mail in his car, 6,000 pieces in his apartment and 1,000 in his work locker.

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