Amanda Elliott, Misappropriation of Postal Service Funds, New York 2013

BUFFALO, N.Y. - In a shocking case of corruption, two sisters from Western New York have pleaded guilty to misappropriating postal service funds.

Amanda Elliott, 35, of Ellington, N.Y., and Tamara Elliott, 30, of Falconer, N.Y., were charged with misappropriation of postal service funds by postal service employee, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, Amanda Elliott was the Postmaster Relief at the post office located in Lily Dale, N.Y. between December 2012 and September 5, 2013. During that time, the defendant accepted cash payments from customers for the purchase of postage stamps. Instead of depositing the cash in the cash register, Elliott kept the cash for personal use. The total loss to the USPS was $5,579.48.

In a separate case, Tamara Elliott was the Postmaster Relief at the post office located in Ellington, N.Y. Between December 2012 and September 5, 2013, Tamara Elliott accepted cash payments from customers for the purchase of postage stamps. Instead of depositing the cash in the cash register, the defendant kept the cash for her own purposes. Tamara Elliott also rented post office boxes and sold money orders to customers and kept the cash payments. The total loss to the USPS was $11,326.86.

The investigation, led by the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Eastern Area Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Monica Weyler, uncovered a web of deceit and corruption that shook the community.

The defendants will be sentenced by the Chief U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny at a later date. The outcome of the sentencing is still unclear, but one thing is certain - the Elliott sisters will face the consequences of their actions.

The case serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability and transparency in our institutions. The public has a right to know when those in positions of trust abuse that trust.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/sisters-postal-employees-plead-guilty-seperate-cases