Tampa, Florida – United States District Judge Richard A. Lazzara today sentenced Kimberly L. Hunter (41, Dundee, Florida) to one year and one day in federal prison for theft of mail by a Postal Service employee. She pled guilty on March 30, 2012.

According to court documents, from December 2010 through July 11, 2011, Hunter worked in Winter Haven as a distribution clerk at the Florence Villa Station. As a distribution clerk, she had access to mail on a daily basis. During this period, Hunter stole approximately 122 known pieces of mail and took gift cards from inside the pieces of mail. The total loss amount sustained by Postal Service customers was $5,147.00. At the time of her arrest, Hunter had been employed by the United States Postal Service (USPS) for approximately 15 years.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachelle DesVaux Bedke.

MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. – Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi announced today that a former United States Postal Service employee was indicted by a Burlington County Grand Jury for stealing money from the sales counter cash register that she was responsible for operating.

Karen Y. Miller, age 57, of 275 Green Street in Beverly City, was indicted on one count of Theft By Deception (Third Degree) and one count of Elements of Computer Theft (Third Degree). The indictment was returned yesterday (6/14/12).

The investigation revealed that on numerous occasions between November 2007 and April 2010, Miller, whose title was Sales Service Distribution Associate, manipulated the computerized cash register system at the Willingboro Post Office in an attempt to nullify transactions. She would then pocket the money that had been paid by customers for stamps and other services.

The amount of the theft was between $3,000 and $4,500. An arraignment will be scheduled soon in Superior Court in Burlington County. Miller has since resigned from the Postal Service.

The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit.

ROCKFORD ¬– June 15, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today signed a new law that will protect postal workers and letter carriers by allowing judges to consider harsher penalties for violent crimes against employees of the United States Postal Service. The Governor signed the law at Illinois State Association of Letter Carriers’ annual convention in Rockford.

“The hard-working men and women of the United States Postal Service deserve our gratitude,” Governor Quinn said. “This law will help make sure that they are able to continue doing their jobs safely.”

Senate Bill 3665, sponsored by Sen. Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago) and Rep. Jerry Costello III (D-Sparta), allows judges to consider a victim’s employment in the United States Postal Service (USPS) as an aggravating factor in violent crimes like assault, battery and robbery. Upon conviction, a judge could impose more severe sentences on the offender.

This law is an initiative of the National Association of Letter Carriers, which is working with the USPS to inform postal workers in Illinois about the appropriate steps to take in the event of a crime being committed against them or in their vicinity.

As U.S. government employees, USPS workers are already protected by federal law; however, in the event federal prosecutors don’t pursue cases involving crimes against postal workers, this law will allow state courts to consider USPS employment in their proceedings.

The new law goes into effect January 1, 2013.