Columbia, South Carolina – United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that Diane T. Williams, age 38, of Lamar, South Carolina, was indicted for theft by a postal employee. Federal officials allege that Williams stole postal funds while working at the Hartsville Post Office from June 2007 to June 2008.

The maximum penalty Williams could receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and imprisonment for 10 years.
Mr. Wilkins stated that the case was investigated by agents of the United States Postal Service and that he has assigned the case to Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II of the Florence office for prosecution.

The following information was released by the office of the Massachusetts Attorney General:

Today, a Gill woman was arraigned on charges she schemed to fraudulently collect over $25,000 in federal workers’ compensation benefits and intimidated a witness. Barbara McComb, age 45, was charged with Larceny by False Pretenses (4 counts) and Witness Intimidation.

On November 19, 2003, McComb was injured in a fall while working as a letter carrier for the United States Post Office (USPS) in Northfield, MA. In December 2003, McComb allegedly started her own business, Long Arm Quilting, out of her home.

According to authorities, McComb’s claim for federal workers’ compensation was accepted by the United States Department of Labor (DOL) in April 2004 and she began receiving benefits in June 2004 through July 2006, including back payments from March 2004 to June 2004. During this time period, McComb allegedly failed to report her self-employment to DOL or the Office of Workers’ Compensation Program (OWCP).

For each of the four claim forms that McComb was required to file with OWCP between March 2004 and July 2006, authorities allege she failed to report any employment, salary or earnings of any kind. According to authorities, in November 2007, McComb allegedly intimidated a former customer who spoke to investigators from USPS regarding McComb’s alleged employment status. The alleged fraudulent activities were initially detected by investigators from the OWCP and USPS who referred the case to the Attorney General’s Office. Authorities allege McComb fraudulently collected payments totaling $25,431.09.

McComb was arraigned today in Greenfield District Court at which time she entered a plea of not guilty and was released on personal recognizance. McComb is due back in court on March 20, 2009, for a pre-trial conference. District Court Judge Arthur F. Haley III presided over the arraignment

The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant Attorney General Michael J. Walsh of Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Division with assistance from investigator Luke Goldworm of the Attorney General’s Office. The USPS also assisted in this investigation.

HARTFORD, Conn., Jan. 26 — The Connecticut Attorney General issued the following news release:

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today, prompted by parent concerns, issued a warning to consumers about placing their child’s photo on U.S. postage stamps for use in daily mailing.

Blumenthal said a picture of a child on a postage stamp – together with the return address on the envelope – may serve as a road map for predators seeking to harm children or their families.

The U.S. Postal Service now offers to personalize stamps with a child’s photo, or other personal photographs.

In a letter to Postmaster General John E. Potter, Blumenthal urged that he consult with criminal justice experts to examine whether photos of children on stamps – and other personal photos – increase the risk of crimes against children.

Blumenthal said, “The message to parents is: commons sense calls for caution. Some dangers may be unknown or unknowable. I applaud the postal service’s creativity – and its goal of raising revenue – but it may be unwittingly raising risks to children as well.

“A child’s picture on a postage stamp, coupled with the return address on the envelope, provides a tempting target and critical information to predators.

“Some personalized stamps could turn postage into predator roadmaps – a vivid living color invitation – particularly when used for everyday non-personal mailing such as bills and other routine business.

“At banks or offices where your mail arrives – or even after it is discarded by recipients – this photo and address may be easily accessible to someone capable of harm. Parents deserve warning of the risks possibly resulting from using stamps showing photos of their children.”

More than 30 million PhotoStamps have reportedly been sold.

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

United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced today, January 14, 2009, that Cortney M. Tarr, a resident of Titusville, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on a charge of misappropriation of postal funds.

The one‑count indictment named Tarr, age 26, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment presented to the court, Tarr embezzled numerous postal money orders while she was employed as a Postmaster Relief employee.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marshall J. Piccinini, who presented the case to the grand jury, indicated that the law provides for a maximum total sentence of ten years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

The United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Former Letter Carriers Branch 272 Secretary-Treasurer Pleads Guilty to Embezzling $45,000

On Nov. 6, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Kevin Sherlock, former secretary-treasurer of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 272 (located in Newton, N.J.), pleaded guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $45,000. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspection General.

Former APWU Officer Pleads Guilty to Embezzling More Than $18,000

On Nov. 17, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Tina Curtis, former secretary-treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 232 (located in Columbus, Ohio), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $18,283. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

(HOUSTON) – A federal jury has convicted a former window clerk for making false financial reports, acting United States Attorney Tim Johnson announced today.

Calvin Williams, 61, of Spring, Texas, who had worked for the U.S. Postal Service since 1992, was convicted of making false entries in financial reports on Dec. 2, 2008. The jury returned its verdict following the two-day trial after 30 minutes of deliberation.

During trial, the jury heard testimony establishing that Williams had been assigned to the Panther Creek Postal Store in The Woodlands, Texas, for approximately six years. A review of postage stamp stock accountability assigned to the station revealed a pattern of stock shortages when compared to the entries of actual postage stamp sales at that facility. Jurors heard testimony that thereafter, agents with the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, began to monitor the activities of the window clerks at the Panther Creek Station from the period beginning May 2006 to September 2006. Upon doing so, Williams was observed as he entered cash paying customers’ postage stamp purchases as a non-revenue line item or “no sale” transaction. Jurors heard testimony, reviewed documentary evidence and surveillance video clips which, collectively, depicted Williams making more than 100 false and fictitious entries of stamp purchases with the intent to deceive the U.S. Postal Service.

United States District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt, who presided over the trial, has set sentencing for March 2, 2008. Williams, originally charged with one count of making false entries, faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine. Williams was released on bond after surrendering to federal authorities following his indictment on Oct. 8, 2008, and has been permitted to remain free on bond pending his sentencing.

The case was tried by Special Assistant United States Attorney Tammie Y. Moore.

(HOUSTON) – Former mail processing clerk, Paula V. Jackson, 41, of Houston, has pleaded guilty to mail fraud charges, acting United States Attorney Tim Johnson announced today.

Jackson was indicted in October 2008 and charged with three counts of mail fraud. Jackson pleaded guilty to all counts this morning before U.S. District Judge Melinda Harmon admitting that since 2001 she had made false and fraudulent filings for unemployment benefits to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) regarding the number of hours she worked or the amount of salary she received from the U.S. Postal Service and receiving benefits to which she was not entitled. As a result of these misrepresentations, Jackson received $15,680 in overpayments.

The investigation leading to the charges against Jackson was triggered by information provided by the Texas Workforce Commission to the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General. That investigation looked into Postal payroll records detailing work hours and salary payment for Jackson for each two-week pay period which were compared to the unemployment benefits claimed by Jackson. Jackson began her employment with the U.S. Postal Service as a mail processing clerk on Sept. 12, 1998. She was assigned to work at the Barbara Jordan Post Office, 401 Franklin, Houston, Texas.

Jackson has been permitted to remain free on a $20K unsecured bond pending her sentencing, which is set for March 13, 2009. She Faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment for each count of conviction.

The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Tammie Y. Moore.

DOJ Press release:

Former rural carrier, Rodney Ervin, 41, of Humble, Texas has pleaded guilty to mail theft, access device fraud and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today.

Ervin pleaded guilty to each of the three charges this morning before United States District Judge Melinda Harmon. Judge Harmon accepted Ervin’s guilty pleas and has set sentencing for Jan. 30, 2009. Ervin faces a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment for the mail theft conviction and 10 years imprisonment for the unauthorized use of the access device conviction. Additionally, Ervin also faces a mandatory two-year minimum sentence on the aggravated identity theft conviction which must be served consecutive to any sentenced imposed on the other counts of conviction. Ervin was indicted and charged with all three counts of conviction on July 17, 2008.

Ervin began his employment with the U.S. Postal Service as a rural carrier associate on Aug. 28, 1999. He was assigned to work at the Bear Creek Station on Cairnway Drive in Houston. The investigation leading to the charges was triggered by the receipt of a complaint concerning fraudulent credit card charges from a customer residing on the route serviced by Ervin.

The United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General investigation following the complaint ultimately identified Ervin on video surveillance at multiple merchant locations including Target, Exxon, Texaco and Academy Sports and Outdoors using the credit cards of three postal patrons residing on his route. In each of these transactions, Ervin fraudulently signed the legitimate customer’s name. To date, Ervin has been identified in connection with a total of approximately $2,517 in fraudulent charges to credit cards stolen from the U.S. Mail.

Ervin has been permitted to remain free on bond pending his sentencing.

The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Tammie Y. Moore.

Factiva.

BOSTON, MA – Two current United States Postal Service employees were charged last week in federal court with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.

United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan, Joseph Finn, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office, and Kevin Lane, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration – Boston Field Division announced today that GERALD J. SADKOWSKI, age 30, of 44B Robert Ford Road in Watertown, MA, and BRIAN M. FAULKNER, age 37, of 6 Carlton Street in Lynn, MA, were charged in a Complaint with one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.

The Complaint alleges that between July and October 2008, SADKOWSKI and FAULKNER conspired to distribute oxycodone while employees of the United States Postal Service. The Complaint alleges that SADKOWSKI and FAULKNER sold oxycodone on postal property and while on-duty as postal employees.

If convicted on these charges, SADKOWSKI and FAULKNER face up to 20 years imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey M. Cohen of Sullivan’s Public Corruption Unit.

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.