Related Federal Cases
Ex-Postmaster Stole $27,350 from USPS
BUFFALO, N.Y.—Former Postmaster Michael Kozina, 57, of Eden, N.Y., pleaded guilty to misappropriation of postal funds by a postal service employee in a U.S. Magistrate Court.
Kozina, who worked as Postmaster at the Lawtons, N.Y. post office between April 2, 2005 and July 31, 2012, used his position to steal cash payments from customers for the purchase of money orders. He kept a portion of the cash for his own purposes and falsified USPS records to cover his tracks.
According to the investigation, Kozina stole $13,760.75 in cash payments from over 12 USPS customers. He also stole $13,585 in post office box rental payments between January 1, 2009 and July 31, 2012.
“As the past public corruption cases brought by this Office demonstrate, no person is above the law,” said U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. “As head of a Post Office branch, this defendant served in a position of trust to both the Government and the public. This Office will not permit a representative or employee of any level of Government to misuse their position for personal gain.”
Kozina faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing will be scheduled before Chief U.S. District Court Judge William M. Skretny.
The guilty plea is the culmination of an investigation by Special Agents of the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-In-Charge Robert Lapina.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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