New Orleans Man Sentenced to 36 Months of Probation for Conspiracy to Alter U.S. Postal Money Orders

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JARVIS WHEELER, age 29, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced to 36 months of probation, which included eight months of home incarceration, by United States District Court Judge Sarah S. Vance after the defendant pleaded guilty to conspiracy to alter U.S. Postal money orders. 

According to the court records, WHEELER conspired with others in the New Orleans area to buy U.S. Postal money orders in small amounts (typically $1.00) and then the money orders were sent out of state where they were altered to much higher amounts. WHEELER, working with other conspirators, then enlisted individuals to deposit the altered U.S. Postal money orders into local bank accounts. Once the money orders cleared, the funds were withdrawn and split by WHEELER and the conspirators.

In addition to incarceration, WHEELER was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $25,000 to two local banks and to pay a $100.00 special assessment.   

U. S. Attorney Evans praised the investigative work of the United States Postal Inspector Office for its handling of the matter.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera prosecuted the matter.