Richard S. Hartunian, United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, announced that ERIN WOOLSCHLAGER, age 35, of Lowville, N.Y., pled guilty today to the felony offense of Misappropriation of Postal Funds, before the Hon. Norman A. Mordue in the United States District Court in Syracuse, New York. Sentencing for WOOLSCHLAGER is scheduled for September 24, 2012. As a result of the conviction, WOOLSCHLAGER is facing a term of imprisonment of up to ten years, supervised release of up to three years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a special assessment of $100.

WOOLSCHLAGER admitted that while working at the Natural Bridge Post Office, she cashed 105 money orders, totaling $14,372.42, without purchasing or processing any of the money orders through the St. Louis Federal Reserve, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1711. WOOLSCHLAGER admitted to using the money orders to: deposit funds into her checking account; pay her car payment, mortgage payments, doctors bills, National Grid bill; repay a cousin for a loan; purchase a $500 puppy; and make various other purchases.

WOOLSCHLAGER also acknowledged that she took in excess of $6500 of postal funds. In total, WOOLSCHLAGER acknowledged owing the United States Postal Service $21,705.05.

The investigation of WOOLSCHLAGER began in March of 2010, when Special Agents with the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General (“USPSOIG”) reviewed records and conducted an audit of the Natural Bridge Post Office as a result of numerous money orders being processed after the date they were cashed.