Postal Worker Pilfers Credit Cards for Shopping Spree
Yvonne Jamison, 38, of Brooklyn, stole cards while employed in Freeport post office

12.15.14 MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced the arrest and arraignment today of a Brooklyn employee for the U.S. Postal Service branch in Freeport for stealing seven credit cards to make purchases at fast-food restaurants, gas stations and liquor stores.

Yvonne Jamison was arrested by DA investigators and arraigned before Nassau District Court Judge Joy Watson on the following charges:

Seven counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the 2nd Degree (a D felony)
Seven counts of Grand Larceny in the 4th Degree (an E felony)
Two counts of Identity Theft in the 2nd Degree (an E felony)

Judge Watson conditionally released Jamison to probation. If convicted of the top charge, Jamison faces a maximum sentence of 2-1/3 to seven years in prison. She is due back in court on Dec. 17.

“As a postal employee, this defendant should have known better than to use people’s personal and confidential financial information in order to conduct fraudulent transactions,” DA Rice said. “Especially during the holiday season, both senders and recipients should be able to count on their mail reaching its intended destination without being subject to the selfish actions of others.”

“Mail theft is a crime that carries serious consequences and will not be tolerated,” said USPS-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Rafael Medina. “The Special Agents of the USPS-OIG will continue to vigorously investigate those postal service employees who violate the public’s trust for their own personal gain.”

DA Rice said that between Sept. 1, 2013 and Nov. 19, 2013, a total of 83 purchases were made using seven credits cards mailed to six individuals – 49 of which took place in Nassau County between Oct. 4, 2013 and Nov. 18, 2013. The total value of goods and services purchased was $4,638.74, of which $1,779 is attributable to Nassau County. The individual purchases in Nassau ranged in amount from $4.62 to $187.42 and included fast-food restaurants, convenience stores, gasoline stations, pharmacies, and liquor stores. It has not been confirmed that all of the purchases outside of Nassau County were made by Jamison.

DA investigators determined that Jamison intercepted the cards used to make the fraudulent transactions while employed at the Freeport branch of the U.S. Postal Service, where she began working as a City Carrier Assistant in June 2013.

The case was referred to DA Rice’s office in December 2013 by the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Postal Service. Jamison was arrested today by DA investigators.

Assistant District Attorney Peter Mancuso of DA Rice’s Government and Consumer Fraud Bureau is prosecuting the case. Jamison was represented by the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County at arraignment.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.