Antoine Merchant, Passing Altered Postal Money Orders, Louisiana 2022

NEW ORLEANS – A New York man has been sentenced to three years of probation for his involvement in passing altered U.S. Postal money orders and theft in Louisiana.

According to court records, Antoine Merchant, 33, travelled from New York to Louisiana in October of 2019 to cash stolen U.S. Postal money orders that had been altered to show amounts worth hundreds of dollars. Along with a co-defendant, Anthony Smalls, Merchant cashed two such postal money orders in Kenner and Metairie, LA.

When arrested, the defendants also possessed 58 U.S. Postal money orders that they had stolen from an Ascension Parish U.S. Post Office the day before. The stolen money orders had a total value of $5,675.00.

Merchant was sentenced on March 3, 2022 by U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Barbier of the Eastern District of Louisiana to three (3) years of probation. In addition to probation, Merchant was ordered to pay restitution to the U.S. Postal Service in the amount of $5,675.00, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $400.

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, along with assistance from the Louisiana State Police – Criminal Investigations Department, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera was in charge of the prosecution.

Merchant and Smalls’ actions resulted in the loss of thousands of dollars for the U.S. Postal Service. The investigation and prosecution of this case highlights the importance of protecting the integrity of the postal system and holding those responsible accountable for their actions.

The case serves as a reminder that passing altered postal money orders and theft are serious crimes that can have significant consequences. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and its partners will continue to work together to prevent and investigate these types of crimes.

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