Press Release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District Of Ohio
Rural Carrier Associate indicted for mail theft
June 2, 2011 – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Joni R. Smith, age 35, of Mogadore, Ohio, with theft of mail by a postal employee and unauthorized opening of mail by a postal employee, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
The indictment alleges that on February 23, 2011, Joni R. Smith, a Rural Carrier Associate assigned to the Rootstown Post Office, Rootstown, Ohio, opened and stole 63 first-class letters and their contents which had come into her possession to be conveyed by mail.
The indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Sassé after investigation by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Part-Time Flexible Postal Clerk indicted for misappropriation of funds
June 2, 2011 – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Carey Burlinski, age 47 of Chesterland, Ohio, with making false entries in postal records by a postal employee and misappropriation of funds by a postal employee, Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today.
The indictment alleges that on February 23, 2011, Carey Burlinski, a part time flexible clerk at the Chagrin Falls Post Office, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, converted postal funds to his own use and made false record entries relating to his window stamp sale transactions.
The indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Sassé after investigation by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.