Postal worker charged with stealing cash from the mail

A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Cristi M. Wellen, 36, of Painesville, with stealing cash from various first-class mail while employed by the United States Postal Service, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Wellen worked at the Post Office’s Cleveland Processing and Distribution Center, and rifled through various envelopes, taking cash from the mail intended for its recipients, according to the indictment.

The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Marisa T. Darden.  

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial, in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.