Carbondale Post Office Emplyee Indicted For Embezzling Mail

On Tuesday of this week, a federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois returned an
indictment charging Athens A. Shorey (also known as “Athens A. DeMartini”), 33, of Cobden,
Illinois, with embezzling mail.

Shorey worked as a letter carrier for the Carbondale Post Office. The indictment charges that on
May 23, 2020, and again on May 27, 2020, Shorey embezzled mail that had been entrusted to her for
delivery. According to the indictment, Shorey embezzled ten pieces of mail on May 23, 2020, and
three additional pieces of mail on May 27. The indictment charges that two of the three pieces of
mail embezzled on May 27 were sent by banks.

After the alleged embezzlements were discovered, Shorey voluntarily resigned from her position with
the Postal Service.

The indictment contains two counts of embezzlement of mail by a Postal Service employee.
Each charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The arraignment for Shorey will be conducted on Sept. 28, 2020, at 10:45 a.m. at the federal
courthouse in Benton, Illinois.

An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be
innocent of a charges until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

The investigation was conducted by agents from the United States Postal Service – Office of the
Inspector General, and officers of the Carbondale, Illinois, Police Department. The case is
being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Verseman.