The former postmaster of the Gardiner Post Office today pleaded guilty to stealing the office’s bank deposits.
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.
Holbrook began working as a postmaster at the Gardiner Post Office in September 2022. In February 2023, a postal service manager in Montana contacted the U.S. Postal Inspection Service regarding concerns that Holbrook was stealing the office’s bank deposits, according to court documents.
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. Holbrook, who typically sent cash after payments were made, provided funds for eight deposits totaling $24,443 between January 2023 and September 2023, according to court documents. That never happened.
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Holbrook admitted to the theft in an interview. 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.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Caban will preside over the case, and a sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court determines the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors. U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovicz said Holbrook was released pending further proceedings.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The USPS Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation.
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