Armstrong County Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing Money from Greeting Card

PITTSBURGH –A former Armstrong County resident pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of theft of mail, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

April Kovach, age 40, formerly of Yatesboro, Pa., pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge Gustave Diamond.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on or about Oct. 8, 2014, Kovach, a then-highway contract route driver for the U.S. Postal Service in Kittanning, did abstract and remove two $20 Federal Reserve notes that had been the contents of a greeting card envelope addressed to an individual in Cranberry Township.

Judge Diamond scheduled sentencing for Oct. 19, 2016, at 10 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Shardul S. Desai is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Kovach.