Consumers grumbled when the United States Postal Service raised first-class stamp prices by 2-cents earlier this year, but little did we know that it went to pay for one USPS employee’s Grey Goose vodka, various other personal expenses, and luxury hotel suites.

USPS’s Office of the Inspector General (IG) has released the report of its investigation into allegations of misconduct of Azeezaly Jaffer, former VP for Public Affairs and Communications for the USPS. The IG’s report found that “Jaffer engaged in a pattern of misusing Postal Service funds for personal use. Jaffer wasted Postal Service funds by purchasing extravagant meals and drinks both in the Washington, DC area and while on travel, and by adding excessive tips to restaurant and lounge bills for drinks and meals.”

What constitutes excessive? Try a 44 percent tip on a $4974 bill at the Oceanaire restaurant in DC. And don’t forget the $8,252 charged to the USPS for a three-night stay in a Grand Hyatt grand suite (complete with parlor).

The report also found that Jaffer entertained friends, employees, and even his spouse at the Peking Gourmet in Falls Church, VA seventeen times from May 2003 to June 2005. These visits racked up $12,863 in charges to USPS, of which $4,675 was for alcohol (according to the report, Jaffer considers anything up to $100 for a bottle of wine to be “halfway decent and reasonable”).

Why the big spending? The report summarizes Jaffer as stating that the high per person costs must be looked at in context: “he described his job as unique, with the latitude and discretion he needs to build and promote the Postal Service brand. Building relationships with people by entertaining them at events like these dinners is critical.”

All in all, Jaffer racked up more than $46,000 in questionable spending. While Mr. Jaffer has resigned, but there’s no word if USPS will press charges or require reimbursement for personal or inappropriate charges.