Former Postal Employee Pleads Guilty to Stealing

After months of investigation, a former Chattanooga employee pleads guilty to stealing medicine that was mailed to veterans. Her arrest came shortly after a NewsChannel 9 investigation into the missing meds. Steve Waller first reached out to us last November.For the last two and a half years, the VA clinic has mailed monthly Hydrocodone pills to help him treat pain from a number of medical problems. But at some point, almost every high dosage bottle sent through the USPS disappeared at the post office. "After a certain period of time, I noticed that the medication was either late or not coming at all. This became a chronic problem. Month after month after month it just wouldn't show up." Waller says he even asked for help before doing some investigating of his own. "Eventually I started following tracking numbers and calling the post office and calling the VA Pharmacy. "I was told don't say anything and it wasn't until I went to NewsChannel 9 that something actually got done." After our story aired, a Special Agent looked into the investigation and a few weeks later, authorities arrested Eastgate postal employee Paula Gass. "Gosh, within a couple of weeks someone was arrested and it helped a lot. Then I started receiving my medication regularly." While progress has been made, Waller has a recommendation for anyone who believes they have the same problem. "Don't stay quiet, rattle some cages. Let someone know that the people in charge are not doing their job." by Mikaya Thurmond