Ex-Official Convicted in Postal Theft Case

A former Postal Service official has been convicted of stealing $16,818 in postage stamps, part of what officials have described as the nation’s biggest theft of its kind.

James S. Gall Jr., a former marketing director, was found guilty Friday of two counts of theft of postal property. Prosecutors said he stole stamps, stamp collecting kits and stamped envelopes.

In all, about $500,000 in outdated or unpopular stamps or postal goods meant for destruction were stolen in the nation’s biggest theft of its kind, postal inspectors said. Eight Postal Service workers were indicted.