BOSTON – A former U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee has been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with two schemes to steal USPS funds.
Zeon Johnson, 27, of Saugus, was indicted on one count of theft of government money. Johnson will appear in federal court in Boston on Monday, May 9, 2022, at 11:30 a.m. before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler.
According to the indictment, beginning in approximately August 2018, Johnson worked as a Sales and Service Distribution Associate for USPS at the Marblehead Post Office. As part of his job, Johnson sold stamps and processed money order transactions for USPS customers. It is alleged that from approximately July 2019 through June 18, 2020, Johnson engaged in two schemes to convert USPS funds for personal use.
It is alleged that Johnson intentionally voided cash transaction sales of USPS stamps to customers, resulting in no records being made of cash payments for stamps, and then stole the cash for his own personal use. It is further alleged that Johnson stole USPS funds through fraudulent money orders, specifically by issuing himself blank money orders, money order refunds as well as money orders made payable to himself. In total, it is alleged that Johnson stole over $18,000 in USPS funds.
The charge of theft of government money provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia M. Carris, Deputy Chief of Rollins’ Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit, is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.