Update: 6/11/14:Germaine Foster, 36, of Birmingham, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Court Judge Virginia Hopkins to five years of probation, including six months home detention, for his guilty plea to six counts of theft of U.S. Postal Service money orders and one count of theft of government property.
Foster,, who worked at the Maylene post office, also will be responsible for repaying $27,650. He had entered into a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“Mr. Foster is genuinely sorry for his mistakes which is why he stood up and accepted responsibility for his actions,” Foster’s lawyer, Michael Whisonant, Jr., stated in an email Wednesday. “He is now looking forward to putting this behind him and working to support his family.”
Foster was charged with taking cash plus conducting a money order “kiting scheme,” according to federal court documents.
In a similar but unrelated case, another postal worker, Sharon Harrison, 57, is to be sentenced July 18 by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Karon O. Bowdre. Harrison had pleaded guilty to charges that she took $27,291 in a “kiting” scheme while working at the Shelby post office
Money order scheme gets former Shelby County postal worker home detention and probation
From the US Attorney’s Office:
BIRMINGHAM — A federal grand jury today indicted two U.S. Postal Service employees in different post offices for each stealing more than $27,000 in money orders or other postal funds, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Special Agent in Charge Maximo Eamiguel.
In separate indictments filed in U.S. District Court, GERMAINE FOSTER, 36, of Birmingham, and SHARON HARRISON, 56, of Maplesville, are charged with theft of U.S. Postal money orders and theft of government property.
Foster worked in the Maylene post office and Harrison worked at the Shelby post office. Foster is charged with stealing about $27,650 in money orders and other postal funds. Harrison is charged with stealing about $27,291 in money orders.
Theft of Postal Service money orders carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Theft of government property carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Postal Service, OIG, investigated the cases, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank M. Salter is prosecuting.
The public is reminded that an indictment is only a charge. A defendant is presumed innocent and it will be the government’s responsibility to prove guilt, beyond a reasonable doubt, at trial.