Orlando Gas Station Owner Sentenced To Prison For Theft Of Postal Money Orders

Orlando, FL – United States District Court Judge Carlos E. Mendoza today sentenced Meghaj Reddy Kuchakulla (49, Orlando) to 12 months in federal prison for theft of $555,561.69 in United States Postal Service (USPS) money orders. Prior to sentencing, he repaid $275,000 to the USPS. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to repay the balance as restitution.

Kuchakulla pleaded guilty on February 10, 2016. 

According to court documents, Kuchakulla was a licensed USPS money order vendor for the four gas stations he owned in Orange and Lake Counties. As a licensed vendor, he had access to create, print, and disburse USPS money orders. From October 2009 through April 2010, Kuchakulla fraudulently created and printed more than 1,100 money orders in his own name, without actually purchasing them. He deposited the funds from the money orders into his personal bank accounts and then used them to pay business expenses, personal expenses, and to pay back the USPS for previous money orders that he had fraudulently created, printed, and deposited.       

“This criminal exploited the postal service financial system and embezzled more than half a million dollars,” said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa. “With the partnership of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, he is now being held accountable for his crimes.”

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn P. Napier.