Postal Employee Charged With Stealing Cash From Greeting Cards

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A resident of Summerhill, Pa., has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown on charges of theft of mail by a postal employee, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

The two-count indictment named Kelly Gruss, 35.

According to the indictment presented to the court, on Sept. 22, 2014, Gruss stole $10, and on Sept. 25, she stole $20 from greeting cards sent via U.S. mail.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney John J. Valkovci, Jr., is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Office of Inspector General of the United States Postal Service conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.