Calvin Williams

Calvin Williams, 61, of Spring, Texas, has been indicted for making false entries and false reports of money collected, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. Williams surrendered to agents with the United States Postal Service - Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) this morning and is expected to appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at which time the issue of bond is expected to be decided.

On Sept. 25, 2008, Williams was indicted on one count of making false entries and false reports of money collected relating to his money and stamp stock inventory accountability in connection with his duties as a sales and service associate (window clerk) at the Panther Creek Postal Store in The Woodlands, Texas. The investigation was triggered by a pattern of stock shortages at the Panther Creek Postal Store. The indictment alleges that between May through September 2006, while employed by the USPS, Williams made a false and fictitious entry of stamp purchases with the intent to deceive.

If convicted, Williams faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine on each count of the indictment.

This investigation leading to Williams’ indictment and arrest was conducted by special agents with USPS-OIG. The case will be tried by Special Assistant United States Attorney Tammie Y. Moore.

Winston Williams

Winston Williams, 59, of Channelview, Texas, has been indicted for making false entries and reports of money, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. Having agreed to surrender himself, Williams was taken into custody today by agents of the United States Postal Service - Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG). Williams appeared before U.S. Judge Frances H. Stacy and has been ordered released on a $20,000 personal recognizance bond. He has entered a plea of not guilty.

On Aug. 14, 2008, Williams was indicted for making false entries and false reports of money collected relating to his money and stamp stock inventory accountability in connection with his duties as a sales and service associate (window clerk). The investigation was triggered by a pattern of stock shortages at the Barbara Jordan Post Office, 401 Franklin, Houston, Texas 77002. The indictment alleges that between January and June 2007, Williams made a false and fictitious entry of stamp purchases with the intent to deceive.

Williams began his employment with the USPS as a Sales and Service Associate (window clerk) on Aug. 18, 1973. If convicted, Williams faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine on each count of the indictment.

This investigation leading to Williams’ indictment and arrest was conducted by Special Agents with USPS-OIG. The case will be tried by Special Assistant United States Attorney Tammie Y. Moore.

In a sign of just how far the stock market has dropped in the last few months, on Friday the price of a share of the Thrift Savings Plan’s C-fund, which tracks the S&P 500 Index, dropped below the value of shares in the low risk G-fund. At the peak of the market, just a year ago, a C-fund share was worth $17.57, while shares in the G-fund were at $12.15. On Friday the value of a C-fund share was $12.61, a drop of 28% in a year, while G shares were worth $12.64, a gain of 4% in the same period. C-fund shares fell further on Monday, closing at $12.12, a loss of almost 4% in one day. The other stock-based funds have also suffered big losses over the last year, with the small cap S fund down 32% from a year ago, and the International I fund down 39%.

Update: The C-fund fell another 5% on Tuesday, to $11.43, a level not seen since 2004. The cumulative loss in the last month now stands at 20%.

TSP Funds Historical Prices

Press release:

A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment against Mary Jo Terry, age 50, of Louisville, Kentucky, in Jefferson County, on charges of Misappropriation of Postal Funds, U.S. Attorney David L. Huber of the Western District of Kentucky announced today.

The Indictment alleges that between January of 2007 and June of 2008, Terry stole money for her own use that belonged to the United States Postal Service Air Mail facility where she was employed.

In the event of a conviction, the maximum potential penalties are 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release for a period of 3 years.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Judd, and it was investigated by the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General.

DOJ Press release:

Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TROY L. NEAL, 59, of Meakin Drive, Windsor, was sentenced today by United States Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford to six months of probation for stealing cash and gift cards from the U.S. Mail. Judge Martinez also ordered NEAL to pay a fine in the amount of $250. On June 9, 2008, NEAL pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of the mail.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, between January 2006 and August 2007, NEAL, while employed as a mail handler at the Hartford Post Office, opened mail and withdrew the contents including cash and gift cards totaling approximately $400.

NEAL, had been employed by the United States Postal Service for approximately 15 years prior to the offense. He has since resigned from the Post Office.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul H. McConnell.

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 20 — The U.S. Department of Justice’s U.S. Attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Louisiana issued the following press release:

SANDRA F. FRANCOIS, age 46, a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier to a one-count of Bill of Information charging conversion of a U. S. Postal Money Order, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten today.

According to the Factual Basis, on December 5, 2007, FRANCOIS, who at the time was a Paulina Post Office employee, took a U. S. Postal Money Order in the amount of $800 and cashed it for her own personal use. The defendant faces a possible maximum penalty of one (1) year of imprisonment, a fine of not more than $100,000.00 and one (1) year of supervised release. She is scheduled to be sentenced on November 12, 2008.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera.

WRAL TV Raleigh NC

Columbia, South Carolina—United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins said Thursday that Denise Larae Key, 43, of New Ellonton, pleaded guilty to theft of mail by a postal employee.

District Judge Margaret B. Seymour will impose a sentence after a pre-sentence report is prepared and reviewed.

Key worked at the New Ellenton post office as a mail clerk from Nov. 2006 through Nov. 2007. While there, Wilkins said, she routinely opened mail and took out checks, money orders, cash, and gift cards.

After being confronted by agents, she stated she could not remember how many pieces of mail she opened or threw away because there were too many to recollect.

As for the gift cards, she then either transacted them or gave them to a relative. She was caught after numerous mail customers reported the loss of money, gift cards, greeting cards, and receiving opened mail.

Key was identified as the employee pilfering the mail during a sting operation conducted at the New Ellenton post office last November. During the operation, she was observed on tape opening a previously-planted pink greeting card.

The $10 Target gift card that was enclosed was later transacted by her relative, as confirmed by store records. According to Key, the relative did not know the gift cards were stolen.

The maximum penalty Key can receive is a fine of $250,000 and imprisonment for five years.

Assistant United States Attorney Winston D. Holliday, Jr., of the Columbia office handled the case.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s U.S. Attorney’s office for Connecticut issued the following press release:

Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANTHONY HARLEY, 45, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty today before United States Magistrate Judge Joan G. Margolis in New Haven to one count of obstruction of the mails.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, on July 19, 2004, while working as a full-time mail handler with the United States Postal Service at the Stamford Mail Processing Plant, HARLEY took two separate pieces of mail not addressed to him. One piece of mail contained black Teva sneakers and the second piece of mail contained a pair of Steiner binoculars. After taking the mail, HARLEY placed both items in his personal knapsack so that he could take them for his own use and benefit.

HARLEY is scheduled to be sentenced on July 2, 2008, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of six months and a fine of up to $5,000.

This matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.

The following information was released by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut:

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RENEE GAUGH, 28, of Brooklyn, Connecticut, pleaded guilty today before Senior United States District Judge Alfred V. Covello in Hartford to one count of theft of mail.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, GAUGH was employed by a contractor who performed custodial services at the Gales Ferry Post Office. In pleading guilty, GAUGH admitted that, from December 2006 to February 2007, she stole mail by removing letters and greeting cards from a mail collection hamper in the main work room of the Post Office. Specifically, on February 1, 2007, GAUGH stole an envelope that contained a $50.00 Best Buy gift card.

Judge Covello has scheduled sentencing for May 7, 2008, at which time GAUGH faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James G. Genco.