Former postal worker pleads guilty to stealing Netflix

HOUSTON Rudolph Luna Jr., 38, was charged with one count of theft of a mail matter. He previously admitted to stealing Netflix movies over a period of several months while a postal employee.

The investigation began in 2008 when Netflix reported that 114 movies were not delivered in the 77373 area code. For several months in late 2008 and early 2009, postal inspectors began to monitor Luna. He came to the attention of USPS inspectors after agents saw Luna take several Netflix movies from the delivery bins of other routes and place them into his delivery bin.

A USPS inspector later prepared multiple Netflix movies to be collected and returned along Luna's route. After watching Luna move several movies into his personal backpack, inspectors detained Luna and found one of the prepared Netflix movies in his backpack.

A conviction for theft of a mail matter carries a maximum punishment of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Luna has been permitted to remain on bond pending his sentencing in November.