Former Maryland Postmaster Pleads Guilty To Stealing More Than $50,000 In Stamps
GREENBELT, MD. — Prosecutors say a former postmaster has pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $60,000 in stamps from the post office where he worked.
Fifty-six-year-old Gilbert Ennis of Lanham entered the plea Tuesday. He will be sentenced Dec. 6 and has agreed to pay restitution from his federal retirement account.
According to his plea agreement, on Nov. 23, Ennis reported an armed gunman had entered the post office when he was working there alone, demanded he open the safe and ordered Ennis into a bathroom.
Ennis told authorities that a box in the safe that held more than $50,000 in stamps was stolen.
Investigators found the box in Ennis’ car and that nearly $2,000 worth of stamps were missing from his drawer.
Read more at the Washington Examiner:
“Murder By Proxy: How America Went Postal” To Be Shown At U.S. And International Film Festivals
“Murder by Proxy: How America Went Postal”
Postal Workers in Florida Can See New Documentary Murder by Proxy: How America Went Postal on a Big Screen
Los Angeles, CA – August 30, 2010. A new documentary on violence in the USPS, Murder by Proxy: How America Went Postal, will be screened at two Florida film festivals this September. The film was written/produced/directed by Emil Chiaberi and produced by Oscar and Emmy winner James Moll.
Murder by Proxy will be shown at the CENFLO film festival on September 3rd at 2:55pm, At the West Orange 5, Theaters, 1575 Maguire Road Ocoee, FL. Two more screenings will take place on September 6th and 9th at Nomadic Tendencies (US branch of Strasburg International Film Festival) located at Muvico Baywalk 20, 151 2nd Ave N, St Petersburg 33701.
In July “Murder By Proxy” was screened for survivors of the 1991 postal massacre in Royal Oak, Michigan, where it was received with a strong reaction from Royal Oak postal workers. Inquiries have been pouring in from USPS employees from different parts of the country asking when they can see the film in their area. Now Florida postal workers who are based in or around St. Petersburg and Ocoee will get the chance to see the film on a big screen.
Murder by Proxy: How America Went Postal is the first documentary to examine the phenomenon of workplace massacre through the lens of the growing socio-economic strains that have swept over this country—beginning in the Reagan era and extending to the present. In the face of an ever changing economy, the film follows the plight of one of America’s working class heroes’, Charlie Withers, a 39 yr. veteran letter carrier from Royal Oak, MI, the home of the films focused incident.
The analysis of work conditions at USPS is central to the film, which sheds light on the toxic postal culture through the prism of catalyst and accountability. And for good reason: the modern, stress-driven, homicidal rampage was born in the postal system—forever changing the meaning of the phrase “going postal”. The USPS presents an ideal case study because it’s been a breeding ground for the same volatile conditions that are now found in most US work environments. “In many ways, the story of work related postal violence chronicles the erosion of America’s working class”, says director Emil Chiaberi.
Today, the USPS is under intense pressure to reduce spending. As a result, workers are once again experiencing the same volatile conditions that led to the 1991 Royal Oak shooting and other related episodes of violence. “It seems like we’ve learned little from the past,” says Charlie Withers, whose investigation of the hostile conditions in Royal Oak’s Post Office resulted in Congressional hearings. He adds: “I think this film is very timely…hopefully, it can help prevent future tragedies.” With the grassroots uprising of support, already formed by responses pouring from the postal unions, workers are eager to help educate those ignorant or dismissive of the destructive effects of volatile management practices. There is a drought of corporate responsibility for this workforce, as lives are sacrificed and the postal service becomes an increasingly exasperated and toxic culture of greed, and violence.
Following the September screenings in Florida and Germany MURDER BY PROXY: How America Went Postal will be shown in several domestic and international Film Festivals. Please visit our website form more information.
ABOUT MURDER BY PROXY: How America Went Postal
Written/Produced/Directed: Emil Chiaberi
Produced by James Moll
Edited by David A. Davidson
Running time: 76 minutes
Language: English
Release date: 2010
Official Website: www.murderbyproxyfilm.com
ABOUT EMIL CHIABERI
Emil Chiaberi grew up in the Soviet Union and now lives and works in the United States as a filmmaker and CEO of an emerging biomedical company. From serving in the Soviet Army to managing a 100+ employee business, his array of personal and business experiences have made him a keen observer of the connections between cultural phenomenon, psycho-spiritual crises and their relationship to social violence. Emil’s first film, Murder by Proxy, explores these connections.
ABOUT JAMES MOLL
Oscar and Emmy winning filmmaker James Moll has been producing and directing non-fiction films for more than ten years. Moll’s feature documentary credits include Running the Sahara, Inheritance, Price for Peace, and The Last Days, which chronicles the lives of five Hungarian Holocaust survivors.
In addition to his work as a filmmaker, Moll established and operated The Shoah Foundation (currently the USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education) with Steven Spielberg for the express purpose of videotaping Holocaust survivor testimonies around the world.
Former USPS Area Vice President Found Guilty Of Assaulting Postal Manager
Jerry D. Lane, the former USPS Vice President for the Capitol Metro Area, was found guilty on misdemeanor assault charges in Loudoun County, Virginia District Court on August 26, 2010, and given a fine of $300.00. (Lane was arrested on June 2, 2010 according to court records)
According to the Washington Post on June 10, 2010:
Jerry D. Lane had served as vice president of operations for the Capital Metro Area since 2006.
Lane, based in Gaithersburg, visited the Dulles Processing and Distribution Center in Sterling on June 1 and allegedly argued with the building’s manager, Kathleen J. Michaels.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Department responded to a 911 call at the building about 2 p.m., said spokesman Kraig Troxell.
Michaels filed misdemeanor assault charges on June 3 and Lane was issued a summons to appear in Loudoun General District Court on June 17, according to court records.
USPS Spokesman Gerald McKiernan said Lane “separated” from the Postal Service on June 3, but could not say whether he was fired or resigned, citing personnel policy and privacy concerns. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General has launched an internal investigation, according to their spokesman Dan Mihalko. Multiple calls to Lane and Michaels went unanswered.
Lane worked for the Postal Service for 32 years and once managed Brentwood Postal Facility, where two workers died during the 2001 anthrax attacks.
Mother Teresa To Be Honored On U.S. Postage Stamp
What: The U.S. Postal Service will pay tribute to Mother Teresa, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work. Noted for her compassion toward the poor and suffering, Mother Teresa, a diminutive Roman Catholic nun and honorary U.S. citizen, served the sick and destitute of India and the world for nearly 50 years.
Who: James H. Bilbray, member, Board of Governors, U.S. Postal Service John E. Potter, postmaster general and chief executive officer, U.S. Postal Service Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio of the United States The Most Reverend Barry C. Knestout, auxiliary bishop, Washington, D.C. Reverend Monsignor Walter R. Rossi, rector, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Sister Leticia, provincial superior, Missionaries of Charity Mitzi Betman, vice president, Corporate Communications, U.S. Postal Service Thomas Blackshear II, artist, Mother Teresa stamp
When: Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010, 3:15 p.m.
Where: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Great Upper Church
400 Michigan Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20017-1566
Background: Mother Teresa, an ethnic Albanian, was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on Aug. 26, 1910, in Skopje in what is now the Republic of Macedonia. Drawn to the religious life as a young girl, she left her home at the age of 18 to serve as a Roman Catholic missionary in India. “By then I realized my vocation was towards the poor,” she later said. “From then on, I have never had the least doubt of my decision.” Having adopted the name of Sister Mary Teresa, she arrived in India in 1929 and underwent initial training in religious life at a convent in Darjeeling, north of Calcutta. Two years later, she took temporary vows as a nun before transferring to a convent in Calcutta. She became known as Mother Teresa in 1937, when she took her final vows.
The stamp features a portrait of Mother Teresa painted by award-winning artist Thomas Blackshear II of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Kidnapper of Memphis Mail Carrier Sentenced To 25 Years In Prison
Memphis, TN – On Monday, August 23, 2010, United States District Court Judge Bernice B. Donald sentenced Michael Julian Smith, also known as Michael Walls, age 24, of Memphis, Tennessee, to 25 years incarceration in federal prison with no parole, announced Edward L. Stanton, III, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.
Smith kidnapped and assaulted a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier in November, 2005 while the carrier was on duty. Smith was convicted in December, 2009 after a jury trial.
The United States Postal Inspectors in Memphis, Tennessee conducted the investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tony Arvin.
source:United States Attorney’s Office,Western District of Tennessee
Will FedEx Target Certain ‘Custom’ers for Rate Increases?
Lower volume customers would receive a “Dear John” letter while higher volume customers would get the message delivered in person by the sales team accompanied by something along the lines of “we’d love to keep your business, but unfortunately not at current margins. We think this proposed pricing is a win/win and still offers lower-than-market pricing and value.”
full story via Big Fat Marketing Blog
Mail Trucking Business Owner Charged With Stealing Funds From USPS
Westmoreland County trucking company owner charged with failing to insure employees; stealing government funds intended to buy insurance
HARRISBURG – Attorney General agents have filed criminal charges against a Westmoreland County business owner accused of misappropriating more than $45,000 from the United States Postal Service (USPS). The money was intended to pay for workers compensation insurance for his employees.
Attorney General Tom Corbett said that Frank Letterine, 49, 5021 Impala Drive, Murrysville, is the owner of Denny’s Trucking, a business that contracts with the Postal Service to transport mail.
Corbett explained that Postal Service contracts provide mail transport companies with money specifically to subsidize the purchase of workers compensation coverage for employees.
According to the criminal complaint, Letterine operated Denny’s Trucking without providing workers compensation coverage from April of 1999 to June of 2009.
Corbett said that during this 10-year period, the Postal Service provided Letterine with $45,479 for the purpose of obtaining workers compensation coverage.
According to the criminal complaint, in 2006 Letterine indicated that the cost for his workers compensation policy would increase by more than $600; and in 2007, by more than$1,000.
Corbett said that as a result, the postal service increased the amount they paid to Letterine for insurance, but he still allegedly did not purchase workers compensation coverage.
Letterine is charged 10 counts of failure to insure and one count of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received. Each charge is a third-degree felony carrying a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
Letterine was preliminarily arraigned before Westmoreland County Magisterial District Judge Charles R. Conway and released on $10,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 14, 2010.
Letterine will be prosecuted in Westmoreland County by Senior Deputy Attorney General J. Scott Robinette of the Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud Section.
(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)
Postmasters President: Delivery Unit Optimization Is Being Implemented At Break Neck Speed
Filed under: districts, excessing, NLPM, post offices, postal, postal news, usps
From the National League of Postmaster’s President’s Message:
Delivery Unit Optimization (DUO) is being implemented at break neck speed and by Tuesday a new Power Point presentation will be on the web site. Review it, learn it and train other Postmasters on it. There are many impacts with DUO; pay, Postmaster level and the future of some Post Offices are at stake. In its original design DUO was to maximize the use of clerk resources with a secondary benefit of better use of existing building space. We want to make sure that as it rolls out across the country it does not mutate into another program that does not benefit Postmasters, the Postal Service or its customers and further jeopardizes universal service. Every National Vice President, Area Coordinator and most state Presidents are in the process of being trained on DUO so call a LEAGUE leader if you have questions and need answers.
source: National League of Postmasters – Presidents Message
What is the Delivery Unit Optimization Initiative?Delivery Unit Optimization (DUO) is a cross functional effort to streamline Delivery and Post Office Operations.
By identifying savings opportunities in operations we better position our offices for current success and future change.
Savings Opportunity Areas:
Function 4 Operations
● Complement
Office Level (Postmaster/EAS)
Facilities
● Lease
● Custodial
Transportation
● Trips/Frequency
Candidate Offices:
Grouping of post offices within 10-15 mile radius
Serviced by the same processing facility
Facility Capacities
● Excess workspace in at least 1 office
● Sufficient parking
Current Staffing
● EAS/Craft
“Hub”
● Receives delivery operations
“Post Offices”
● 9 routes or less
● Transfers delivery operations to parent office
● Retains retail window operations
● Retains post office box operations
Participating USPS Districts
Capital, N New England, Alabama, Fort Worth and Central Plains
USPS New Delivery Unit Optimization Initiative To Streamline Post Office Operations
New Book Released By The Only Female Deputy Postmaster General
Filed under: postal, postal news, Postmasters, press releases, usps
“Jackie Strange joined the Post Office Department as a temporary clerk in 1946 while still in college. She worked her way up through the system, often as the first women in her managerial positions. Rising from work as a temporary clerk, she was promoted to postmaster, then acting manager of mail operations, followed by a number of regional and district management positions, as assistant postmaster general in procurement and supply, regional postmaster general for the southern region, and finally, as deputy postmaster general in 1985. As deputy postmaster general, she served in the “No. 2 job in the U.S. Postal Service,”1 from 1985 until her retirement in 1987, “managing the world’s largest non-civilian workforce of 800,000 and a $32 billion budget.” from Postal Museum: Women in the U.S. Postal System History
Pittsboro, NC (Vocus) August 28, 2010 – She was the only woman, as of 2010, who rose from a clerk in the Georgia Southern College Post Office to Deputy Postmaster General in the United States Postal Service. In an inspiring memoir, MS. DEPUTY POSTMASTER GENERAL, author Jackie A. Strange shares with readers her remarkable achievements and how trusted leadership, courage, and innovations impacted the postal service.
Under physical and mental duress, she achieved unprecedented records and saved billions of dollars for the postal service—the largest non-military job in the world with 800,000 employees and a $32 billion (in 1983 dollars) budget—through innovative programs. Because of her achievements, the Australian Post asked her to come to Australia to help hire women managers. The program was so successful that it spread throughout the Australian government.
In this notable memoir, readers will learn and be motivated by her firm principles – those that helped her weather the storms in life and reach her position. Upon her retirement, she received the highest honor, The Benjamin Franklin Award and $10,000 as the Postmaster General’s Award for Excellence. Furthermore, in an unprecedented move, all postal employees and labor leaders celebrated “Jackie A. Strange Day” on her retirement date.
A celebrated tribute of dedication, determination, and hard work, MS. DEPUTY POSTMASTER GENERAL appeals to a wide audience—inspiring managers and employees, business persons, the reading public and those interested in reaching the apex of one’s career. For more information on this book, log on to Xlibris.com.
MS. DEPUTY POSTMASTER GENERAL * by Jackie A. Strange
How Trusted Leadership, Courage, & Innovations Impacted The Postal Service
Publication Date: August 25, 2010
Trade Paperback; $19.99; 243 pages; 978-1-4535-3056-6
Trade Hardback; $29.99; 243 pages; 978-1-4535-3057-3
eBook; $9.991; 978-1-4535-3058-0
Members of the media who wish to review this book may request a complimentary paperback copy by contacting the publisher at (888) 795-4274 x. 7879. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (610) 915-0294 or call (888) 795-4274 x. 7879.
For more information on self-publishing or marketing with Xlibris, visit www.Xlibris.com . To receive a free publishing guide, please call (888) 795-4274
Affordable Mail Alliance Reaches 1,000 Members
Washington, DC – The Affordable Mail Alliance – a growing coalition of non-profits, Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, major trade associations, consumer groups, and citizens representing the vast majority of the mail sent in the United States – today announced the addition of its one thousandth member group.
Formed in response to the US Postal Service’s July 6th announcement that it would seek to raise rates far beyond those currently allowed by law, the Affordable Mail Alliance has been steadily picking up new members since its inception. Growing from a handful of organizations, these members range from traditional powerhouses like the American Forest and Paper Association to non-profit organizations like the Disabled American Veterans to small local publications like Oklahoma’s Countywide News.
“We are proud of the alliance we have built-over a thousand groups, large and small, from around the country, who have joined together on this issue,”said Tony Conway, Affordable Mail Alliance Spokesperson and Executive Director of the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers.
The Alliance gained members following recent Postal Regulatory Commission hearings during which the Post Office admitted that it is not facing an immediate cash crisis, as it had previously claimed. The alleged crisis, which the Post Office said would require a severe price increase at ten times the rate currently permissible by law, was contradicted by their own leadership during the hearings. The Post Office now claims that the rate increase is needed to prevent a longer-term profit slowdown over the next decade.
The coalition comprising the Affordable Mail Alliance has argued that emergency provisions included in the postal laws do not apply to the Post Office’s current situation, and that USPS should seek to take more substantial steps within its own organization before raising prices for the millions of consumers the Alliance represents.
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), a key author of the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, agreed that the proposed increase was unwarranted. In her official comments to the Postal Regulatory Commission, Senator Collins said that the law’s ‘extraordinary or exceptional circumstances’ test has not been met by the USPS, “the provision was not intended to be used under the current circumstances,”but rather in cases such as natural disasters and terrorist attacks. The Post Office’s “failure to sufficiently update its business model,”she said, was not sufficient for special consideration.
The one thousand groups that have now signed on to the Affordable Mail Alliance, based in all regions of the country, provide a picture of broad-based discontent with the Post Office’s proposal.
“There is a reason that a thousand non-profits, local newspapers, successful companies and small businesses from across the country have joined the Affordable Mail Alliance to say enough is enough. We’re tired of being asked to foot the bill for the USPS’s failure to control costs,”said Conway. “The Post Office’s proposed rate hike hurts mail customers and it’s just bad business.”