PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A former postal employee has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to steal U.S. Treasury checks from the U.S. mail.
Joan Manuel Mustafa, 28, of Providence, pleaded guilty on October 21, 2015, to one count each of conspiracy, theft of mail, and theft of public money or property.
According to court documents, Mustafa was involved in a scheme to steal U.S. Treasury checks from the U.S. Mail Providence Processing and Distribution Center, and either sell them on the street or deposit them in bank accounts opened with stolen or fraudulent personal information.
The stolen checks, valued at approximately $1.6 million, were then used to make retail purchases with the use of debit cards, or withdrawn from ATMs.
Mustafa’s sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith, includes 2 years supervised release upon completion of his prison term, and 100 hours of community service.
A co-defendant, Erick Vera-Garzon, 36, of Providence, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison last month for his role in the same conspiracy.
The investigation, which involved the Providence Police Department Intelligence and Organized Crime Unit and the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, resulted in the seizure of stolen U.S. Treasury checks, gift cards, and cash.
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Related Federal Cases
- Postal Worker Darren Camacho Pleads Guilty to Mail Theft · Massachusetts
- Postal Worker Darren Camacho Pleads Guilty to Mail Theft Ring · Massachusetts
- Belkis Guzman Sentenced for Tax Fraud, ID Theft Scheme · Rhode Island
- RI DLT Employee Sheku Sentenced for $500k Fraud Scheme · Rhode Island
- Peruvian National Pleads Guilty to ID Theft in Distraction Theft Scheme · Virginia
Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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