Marcus Postumius, surnamed Pyrgensis, is described by Livius as a "farmer of the taxes" during the Second Punic War, whose character for avarice and fraud were equaled only by Titus Pomponius Veientanus.
During this period, when Rome and her allies had many troops in the field, and it was necessary to transport goods to them by sea, the state assumed all risks on behalf of private suppliers, such as Postumius and Pomponius, insuring them against all losses to their ships caused by storms.
[1] This fraud was first reported in 213 B.C., but the Senate had delayed action for fear of offending other suppliers, who depended on the assurances of the state against loss.
Another tribune, Gaius Servilius Casca, who was a relative of Postumius, failed to intervene on his behalf, and in order to avoid an insurrection, the proceedings were halted by the consul Quintus Fulvius Flaccus.
[2] The matter was then brought before the Senate by the consuls, who argued that Postumius and his allies had robbed the people of their right to vote.