South Carolina Postal Clerk Charged With Stealing $46,000 From Stamp Machines
Columbia, South Carolina —- Acting United States Attorney Kevin F. McDonald stated today that Harry H. Higgins, age 52, of Greenville, South Carolina, was charged in a federal Indictment with misappropriation of postal funds, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1711.
Higgins worked as a technician for the Spartanburg West Post Office, and was responsible for servicing postal vending machines in the region. Investigators allege that Higgins stole approximately $46,000 from the machines over a one-year period.
The maximum penalty Higgins faces is a fine of $250,000.00 and imprisonment for ten years.
Mr. McDonald stated that the case was investigated by agents of the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, and that he has assigned the case to Assistant United States Attorney David C. Stephens of the Greenville office for prosecution.
The Acting United States Attorney stated that all charges in this Indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Ohio Postal Clerk Charged With Theft of 2,050 Pieces of Mail
Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, today announced that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Thomas D. Oliver, age 48, of Louisville, Ohio, with theft of mail by a postal employee and unauthorized opening of mail by a postal employee.
The Indictment alleges that from as early as May 2008 until January 8, 2010, Thomas D. Oliver, a Mail Processing Clerk assigned to the Canton Processing and Distribution Center, Canton, Ohio, stole 2,050 first-class letters which had come into his 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 agents of 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.
South Dakota Postmaster Pleads Guilty to Theft
US Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Colleen K. Mouw,age 52, of Elk Point, SD, appeared before US Magistrate Judge John E. Simko on March 25, and pled guilty to an Information that charged her with theft of government funds. The maximum penalty upon conviction is one year in prison and/or a $100,000 fine, plus restitution. Mouw was the postmaster at the Jefferson, South Dakota, Post Office. Between May 2007 and May 26, 2009,she made application to the United States Postal Service and received reimbursement for expenses she indicated were incurred on behalf of the Postal Service, which expenses were not reimbursable. The amount stolen was less than $1,000. The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Connie Larson. A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date will be set. The defendant was released on bond pending sentencing.
South Carolina Man Sentenced For Burning Postal Van Carrying Mail
Columbia, South Carolina—- Acting United States Attorney Kevin F. McDonald stated today that Timothy Turner, age 25, of Westminster, South Carolina, was sentenced today in federal court in Anderson for maliciously destroying a vehicle carrying United States mail by means of fire, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(i). Senior United States District Judge
G. Ross Anderson, Jr., sentenced Turner to five years in federal prison. He will also have to serve a three year period of supervised release after imprisonment.
Last June, Turner stole a postal van parked on the campus of Clemson University. The van contained approximately 33 tubs of mail destined for various addresses at the University. After going through the contents of the van, Turner drove it to a rural area in Oconee County and set it on fire. The van and all of the mail items were completely destroyed.
The case was investigated by agents of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Clemson University Police Department, and the Oconee County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins, Jr., of the Greenville office handled the case.
Louisiana Man Indicted For Assaulting Letter Carrier
March 11, 2010
CHRISTOPHER ISAAC, age 20, of Marrero, Louisiana, was charged in a one count indictment by a Federal Grand Jury with Assault on a Federal Officer, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to the indictment, ISAAC used a dangerous weapon to forcibly assault a United States Postal Service letter while the Postal letter carrier was engaged in his official duties.
ISAAC faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years, a fine of $250,000.00 and three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
U. S. Attorney Letten reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being investigated by United States Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Loan “Mimi” Nguyen
source: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana
Indiana Postal Employee Sentenced For Theft of Netflix Movies
INDIANAPOLIS – Ricky L. Alsip, 53, of Evansville, Indiana, was sentenced to two yearsof probation by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young following his guilty plea to theft of mail by a postal employee. This case was the result of a investigation by the U.S. Postal Service Office
of Inspection General.
Alsip admitted that he had been stealing items from the mail while working as a postal carrier for a period of approximately one year. Alsip estimated that he removed 450 Netflix movies from the mail for use by himself and members of his family during this time period. Alsip also admitted taking other mail items such a magazines and catalogues for his own use.According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd S. Shellenbarger, who prosecuted the case for the government, Judge Young also ordered Alsip to make restitution in the amount of $5,413.50 and ordered Alsip to perform 40 hours of community service.
source: US Attorney’s Office
Former Postmaster Sentenced To Prison
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Malcolm L. Howell, 49, of Athens, Mercer County, West Virginia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Irene C. Berger to five months in prison followed by five months home confinement for misappropriation of federal funds. Howell previously pled guilty in September 2009, admitting that over a period of four years he stole over $36,000 in postal funds while serving as the Postmaster in Peterstown, West Virginia. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Howell was ordered to pay restitution to the United States Postal Service.
The United States Postal Inspection Service, Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney John L. File handled the prosecution.