Former Postal Carrier Indicted For Stealing Cash, Gift Cards From The Mail

MINNEAPOLIS—A federal indictment unsealed late last week charges a former postal carrier with stealing cash and gift cards from the U.S. mail. The indictment, which was filed on June 11, 2013, charges Bobbi J. Ouradnik, age 27, of Hinckley, with one count of theft of mail by postal employee. The indictment was unsealed following Ouradnik’s initial appearance in federal court on Friday, June 21, 2013.

The indictment alleges that from July 2011 and July 3, 2012, Ouradnik stole currency and gift cards from letters and envelopes she was entrusted to deliver. At the time, she was employed as a rural carrier for the Harris Post Office.

If convicted, Ouradnik faces a potential maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. Any sentence would be determined by a federal district court judge. This case is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Service-Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan P. Petterson.

An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.