$3.7 Million, Mailman Both Missing

P H O E N I X, June 14 -- Someone stole a large sum of money — reportedly$3.7 million — from the U.S. Postal Service depository in Phoenixlast week in what investigators say was an inside job.

Federal officials refused to say much more than toacknowledge there had been a theft and to insist that havingkept silent about it for more than a week wasn't a cover-up.

Postal Inspector Virgil Moore also wouldn't say how much wastaken or who is suspected of taking it.

"We did have a loss. That's about all we're releasing," hesaid. He said it wasn't a loss of mail but wouldn't go further.

"It's not billions of dollars," Assistant U.S. AttorneyMichael Johns said, but declined to provide other details.

Television station KPNX said $3.7 million was missing.

Moore characterized the robbery as an "internal matter" andsaid the FBI has not been invited to assist with the investigation.

Suspect or Victim?

Meanwhile, a longtime postal employee, Louis Holley, 52, ofTempe disappeared at the time of the theft and is beingsought by authorities, according to family members. Moore wouldn'tconfirm the name or say whether he was under investigation.

The family fears foul play.

The theft occurred about June 2 at the Postal Service's GeneralMail Facility, a processing and distribution center through whichmail is funnelled in Arizona and revenue taken in by postalstations.

The Arizona Republic said some employees reported beingquestioned by postal inspectors and being threatened with dismissalif they gave out any information.

The Republic also said that Holley's brother, Michael Holley ofMemphis, Tenn., said postal inspectors indicated his brotheris a suspect.

"We can't get anything out of the postal inspectors," he toldthe newspaper. "They immediately centered on my brother as the onewho took the money."

Another Big Haul

Michael said Louis and 11 co-workers shared a $3.3 millionArizona Lottery jackpot 14 years ago.

Another brother, David Holley, of Florida, said Louis is "not ahigh-roller type of guy and doesn't have expensive tastes." Hesaid family members tried to persuade investigators that Louis mayhave been the victim of foul play but that inspectors seemed toignore that possibility until recently.