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Package shipping manager faces charges By JILL BRISKEY Medford police are investigating more than 60 new allegations from customers who claimed they were scammed by the former manager of a local shipping company. According to Medford police Lt. Tim George, Joseph Ben Kolnick, 50, was arrested Friday afternoon. Kolnick is the former manager of Pak Mail, located at 890 Biddle Road. His franchise was revoked May 4, according to Pak Mail's chief executive officer. Armed with search warrants, police combed through the Biddle Road store and Kolnick's residence at 2259 College Way on Friday, George said. Officers seized packages and letters from both locations, George added. "People who had unopened mail (at Pak Mail on Biddle Road) need to pick it up at the (Medford main) post office," George said. "He's shut down. It's empty in there." Following the search, Kolnick was charged with two counts of racketeering, four counts of first-degree theft, four counts of first-degree theft by deception, 12 counts of second-degree theft and 12 counts of second-degree theft by deception. He was lodged in the Jackson County Jail on $300,000 bail. "He'll probably face additional charges as the investigation goes on," George said. "This isn't over by a longshot." Medford police arrested Kolnick on May 16 on charges of second-degree forgery, third-degree theft, two counts of first-degree theft and two counts of second-degree theft. Kolnick posted bail and was released the same day. Since that time, George said Kolnick was working on and off out of the Biddle Road location using a different company name. "He had a cardboard sign on the door," he added. Kolnick's arrest is an isolated incident. Additional Pak Mail franchises in the Rogue Valley are not connected with Kolnick's charges and are not being investigated. Police began investigating Kolnick in early April after receiving complaints from angry customers who claimed to have mailed packages through the Biddle Road Pak Mail that were "lost" in the mail. Customers also complained of purchasing insurance for packages and never receiving it, George said, while others reported paying for items to be delivered through FedEx or UPS but were instead shipped by U.S. mail. According to Detective Bill Ford, police are beginning to investigate the 60 reports taken from former customers. Ford said he believes there are additional victims who have not yet contacted police. "We would still like people to come forward and call us," he said. To make a report, call Medford police at 774-2228. A Medford post office worker said customers of the store should pick up their mail at the downtown post office as soon as possible. The post office will hold mail for 10 days and then return it to the sender. Former customers should arrange for a change of address as well. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.