Former U.S. Postal Service employee Randy L. Younger, who was indicted on accusations of mail theft in Englewood in September, is a fugitive, according to a news release by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado.

“Defendant Younger confessed to stealing the mail pieces and removed cash and gift cards,” read the news release, which was updated Feb. 25. “Records from King Soopers and JCPenney indicate that defendant redeemed the gift cards. Defendant Younger additionally admits to using the cash to purchase drugs.”

While executing a search warrant July 17 at Younger's residence, agents located more than 5,000 pieces of stolen mail, the release said. Younger confessed that he accessed mailboxes with a stolen key, it added. He allegedly stole mail from “several postal collection boxes” on or about January through April 2018, according to the release.

Younger, then 47, was indicted Sept. 27, according to the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Postal Service.

He was arrested by OIG agents Sept. 28, according to Jeffrey Krafels, deputy special agent in charge for the OIG Western Area Field Office in the Denver area.

A bond document and conditions of Younger's release were filed that same day, according to court records. But a filing of courtroom minutes on Jan. 2 noted Younger was not present and that the court held discussion “regarding issuance of an arrest warrant.” The filing said once “the defendant is in custody,” a change of plea hearing would be reset.

Previously, the OIG said a mail carrier was under investigation after agents received allegations in February 2018 that customers were not getting mail in Englewood, according to that office.

Agents identified the employee suspected of the thefts on June 6 — now known to be Younger — and he was put in a “non-pay, non-duty status,” said David Rupert, spokesman for the USPS in Colorado.

The complaints in February originated at the post office at 915 W. Lehigh Ave., not far southeast of West Hampden Avenue and South Santa Fe Drive, according to the OIG.

No complaints at other Denver-area post offices, or employees of those post offices, were involved in the investigation of the employee identified on June 6, Krafels said previously. He did not say how many people brought complaints about mail going missing since February.

Complaints related to the Lehigh Avenue post office had continued even after June 6, when Younger was put on non-duty status, according to Krafels. But the OIG is confident only one person was involved in the Englewood thefts since February, he said.

U.S. attorney's offices are generally in charge of prosecuting suspected mail theft. A U.S. attorney is the chief federal law-enforcement officer in their district of the country.

Theft or possession of stolen mail is punishable by up to five years in prison and fines up to $250,000, and employees convicted of theft stand to lose their jobs, according to the OIG.

The OIG has emphasized that the "vast majority of postal personnel are dedicated, hard-working public servants" who don't engage in theft.