P1 Postal Problems

A former mail carrier admitted in federal court that he stole IRS checks out of the mail for 50 each. (Seth Perlman | AP)

CAMDEN -- The check indeed was in the mail, but a former Burlington County mail carrier admitted in federal court Friday that he didn't deliver the goods.

Earl Champagne, 47, of Willingboro, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler to a count of theft of U.S. Mail and a count of theft of government money.

According to a court document charging Champagne, two unnamed New Jersey residents approached Champagne about handing over IRS checks he was to deliver.

Prosecutors said that from March to July of 2014, Champagne, a 19-year veteran mail carrier, was told to look for IRS mailings directed to individuals with "Spanish" names. He was told to pick the checks out of the mail to hand over to them or to notify them that checks were in mailboxes that they could intercept.

Prosecutors said Champagne was paid $50 for every check stolen from the mail.

He admitted to stealing 72 government checks totaling $442,776, the court record said.

If he was paid for each of the 72 checks, Champagne would have made $3,600 in the scheme.

The theft of U.S. Mail and theft of government money charges to which Champagne pleaded guilty both carry maximum penalties of 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Champagne is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 3.

U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman credited special agents of the IRS-Criminial Investigation unit and the U.S. Postal Service's Office of Inspector General with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.

Tim Darragh may be reached at tdarragh@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @timdarragh. Find NJ.com on Facebook.