The following is an October 3, 2024 release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana.
BILLS — The former postmaster of the Gardiner Post Office today pleaded guilty to stealing the office’s bank deposits, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovicz said.
The defendant, Tanya Lee Holbrook, 42, of Emigrant, pleaded guilty to misappropriation of postal funds and theft of government property charged in the indictment. Holbrook faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on each charge.
U.S. Judge Timothy J. Cavan served as presiding judge. The sentencing date will be set by U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court determines the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors. Mr. Holbrook was released pending further court proceedings.
The government alleges in court documents that Holbrook began working as a postmaster at the Gardiner Post Office in September 2022. In February 2023, Montana’s postal service director contacted the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General regarding concerns that Holbrook was stealing his job. bank deposit.
The investigation revealed that Holbrook regularly issued money orders to himself and others, but did not submit the funds to the USPS. From November 2022 to September 2023, Holbrook delayed approximately 48 bank deposits from the Gardiner Post Office, totaling $46,755. Ms. Holbrook typically sent cash after her paycheck was paid, but she never provided funds for eight deposits totaling $24,443 between January 2023 and September 2023. There wasn’t. In an interview, Holbrook admitted to the theft. Holbrook said he issued money orders and delayed sending payments instead of sending them to himself or his family. Ms. Holbrook ultimately fell far behind and was unable to make several deposits.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The USPS Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation.
