Postal employee sentenced for money order theft

A former employee of the Pirtleville Post Office has been sentenced to 16 months in prison followed by three years of probation for stealing money orders paid for by customers.

Anna Cecilia Miranda, 49, of Douglas, worked at the post office from March 2008 through October 2009 and served as the relief postmaster when the postmaster was on assignment. Beginning in August 2009 and through October 2009, Miranda sold money orders to customers who then placed them in envelopes to mail. However, instead of mailing the money orders, Miranda stole them and used them herself, forging customers’ signatures and taking the money, according to a release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona.

Additionally, Miranda did not process payments made by customers for many of the money orders.

When customers began to hear from creditors about past due bills for mortgages, car payments and other expenses, they complained at the post office. Miranda heard many of the complaints and told customers she would look into the matter, but took no action, according to the release.

On May 14 of this year, Miranda pleaded guilty to attempting to pass a forged and altered U.S. Postal Money Order and to theft of mail matter by a postal service employee. She was sentenced on Tuesday.

In addition to prison time, she was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $25,106.57.