Former Employee Pleads Guilty To Stealing Funds From Postal Service

MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court in St. Paul, a former employee of the United States Postal Service (“USPS”) pleaded guilty to embezzling postal funds from the Brooklyn Park Post Office. Kathleen M. Warner, age 53, of Otsego, pleaded guilty to one count of misappropriation of postal funds. Warner, who was indicted on March 12, 2013, entered her plea before United States District Court Judge Paul A. Magnuson.

In her plea agreement, Warner admitted that from in or about February 2010 to in or about August 2012, while performing her duties as a service associate for the USPS, she stole funds exceeding $1,500. Warner admittedly recorded cash sales of postage stamps incorrectly to benefit herself, used postage stamps for personal mailings without paying for them, took money out of her cash drawer to purchase Post Office merchandise, and took money from the cash drawer for her own benefit. Warner’s activities were discovered through the use of a surveillance camera.

For her crime, Warner faces a potential maximum penalty of ten years in prison. Judge Magnuson will determine her sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled. This case is the result of an investigation by the USPS-Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Manda M. Sertich.