ALBANY, GA – A former Albany postal employee is trading his uniform for an orange jumpsuit after being sentenced for pilfering U.S. Treasury checks from the mail. Nathaniel M. Johnson, 57, received a 15-month sentence from U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands on Thursday, March 13, 2014, for theft of mail by a postal employee. The sentence comes after Johnson pleaded guilty on October 4, 2013.
The scheme unfolded in April 2013, with Johnson brazenly rifling through, opening, and stealing U.S. mail – specifically targeting those coveted Treasury checks. Investigators identified a staggering 10 victims who collectively lost over $30,000 to Johnson’s greed. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia, led by U.S. Attorney Michael J. Moore, brought the case to light.
“We all count on our postal employees to handle and deliver some of our most important things,” Moore stated following the sentencing. “From wedding invitations to tax returns and payroll checks, a great deal of trust is placed in postal workers. Most of the good folks at the post office care deeply about the people they serve, making sure that nothing stands in the way of the mail delivery. Unfortunately, Mr. Johnson cared more about enriching himself than serving the public and, in doing so, dishonored the many others whose dedication is legendary.”
The investigation was a joint effort between the United States Postal Inspection Service and the United States Secret Service. Reginald G. Moore, Special Agent in Charge of the Secret Service’s Atlanta Field Office, emphasized the agency’s commitment to combating this type of crime. “The United States Secret Service will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate the theft and negotiation of U.S. Treasury checks,” he said. “We will work closely with prosecutors to ensure offenders, like Mr. Johnson, who abuse public trust are put behind bars.”
Assistant United States Attorney Jim Crane skillfully prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and subsequent sentencing. The investigation revealed a calculated betrayal of public trust, a stark reminder that even those entrusted with safeguarding our mail can succumb to criminal impulses. The 15-month sentence sends a clear message: abusing a position of authority for personal gain will not be tolerated.
Anyone with information regarding similar incidents is urged to contact the United States Attorney’s Office at (478) 621-2603, specifically Pamela Lightsey. This case serves as a warning that the long arm of the law reaches even into the seemingly secure world of mail delivery, and those who exploit the system will be held accountable. The feds aren’t playing around when it comes to protecting the public purse.
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Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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