Richard S. Hartunian, United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, announced that ANDREA LYNCH, age 30, of Clayton, N.Y., was sentenced today, November 9, 2012, in U.S. District Court in Syracuse, New York before the Hon. Glenn T. Suddaby, U.S.District Court Judge. LYNCH was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 9 months, with three years supervised release to follow her term of imprisonment. Additionally, LYNCH was ordered to pay $51,161.51 in restitution and a $100 special assessment in connection to her plea to the felony offense of Misappropriation of Postal Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1711.

LYNCH admitted that while working at the Theresa, Fishers Landing and LaFargeville Post Offices, she embezzled 231 money orders, totaling $51,161.51, without purchasing or processing any of the money orders through the St. Louis Federal Reserve, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1711. LYNCH admitted to using the money orders to support her heroin addiction.

The investigation of LYNCH began in August of 2010, when Special Agents with the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General (“USPSOIG”) reviewed records and conducted an audit of the Theresa Post Office as a result of numerous money orders being processed after the date they were cashed.

This prosecution was handled in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara B. Thomson. Further information can be directed to the United States Attorney’s Office at (315) 448-0672.