United States Attorney Leura G. Canary Middle District of Alabama

MACON COUNTY MAN FOUND GUILTY OF CASHING STOLEN MONEY ORDERS IN MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA— On August 8, 2007, Henry Thomas, a resident of Macon County, Alabama, was found guilty of receiving and cashing 11 stolen United States Postal money orders, announced U.S. Attorney Leura G. Canary.
The investigation of this case began with the robbery of the Fort Davis Post Office in Macon County, Alabama, on August 24, 2004. Investigators established that the Postmaster, Mary Davis, was tied up and chained to a chair by an unknown male who entered the post office claiming to be armed with a knife. The robber stole money, stamps, 105 blank United States postal money orders, and the imprinter machine used to complete the money orders.

Physical evidence located at the scene led investigators to Marvin Thomas, the brother of Henry Thomas, who was arrested and eventually tried, convicted, and sentenced in early 2005, for possessing and cashing 15 of the stolen money orders.

In July 2006, additional money orders, stolen from the Fort Davis Post Office began surfacing at businesses around the Auburn, Opelika, and Tuskegee areas. Investigators soon determined that Henry Thomas was responsible for cashing more than 11 money orders in the Middle District of Alabama and elsewhere.

Thomas was arrested in Indiana and brought back to Montgomery where he stood trial. Thomas was found guilty of 33 counts of conversion and receipt of stolen money orders in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 500, and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2114(b).

Thomas faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, 3 years supervised release, a $100 assessment fee and payment of restitution to all victims. Sentencing is set for November 1, 2007, before United States District Judge W. Keith Watkins.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, the Bedford, Indiana, Police Department and the Lawrence County, Indiana, Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Susan Redmond.