October 10, 2019 PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Cheswick, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to theft of government property and uttering and possessing false securities, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

John Martell, 38, pleaded guilty to five counts before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that between approximately April 23, 2018 and June 11, 2018, Martell and his codefendant, Holly Lovasik, who was a former employee of the United States Postal Service, engaged in a stamp theft scheme in order to pay a debt they owed to their drug dealer. The coconspirators purchased $34,800 in stamps from approximately 28 different Post Offices in the Western District of Pennsylvania, using checks that were written on closed accounts and checks that belonged to two deceased doctors that were falsely altered, completed and signed. Martell and Lovasik then re-sold the stamps for cash, predominantly at a pawn shop in Tarentum, PA. The court was further informed that, in addition to the stamp theft, the United States Post Office incurred $2,790 in check surcharges, for a total loss of $37,590.

Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for January 30, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 45 years in prison, a fine of $1,250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

Martell’s bond was revoked due to a bond violation and failure to appear for the bond violation hearing, and as such, he has been detained pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Christy C. Wiegand is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Martell.

December 7, 2018 PITTSBURGH, PA – Two residents of Cheswick, Pennsylvania, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of related to the theft of government property, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today. One of the defendants is also charged with uttering and possessing false securities.

The six-count Indictment, returned on Dec. 4 and unsealed today, named Holly Lovasik, 31, and John Martell, 38, as defendants.

According to indictment presented to the court, from April 23, 2018 through June 11, 2018, Lovasik and Martell engaged in a scheme to purchase large quantities of stamps from post offices in western Pennsylvania using bad checks. Lovasik used checks in her own name linked to a bank account she knew was closed, and Martell used checks in the names of two individuals, which were falsely altered, completed and signed. The defendants later sold the stamps for cash.

For Holly Lovasik the law provides for a maximum total sentence of 15 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or both. For John Martell the law provides for a maximum total sentence of 45 years in prison, a fine of $1,250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of each defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Christy Criswell Wiegand is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.