PORTLAND, Ore. -- A U.S. Postal worker was sentenced to prison time and ordered to pay back more than $200,000 to the agency in return for stealing money orders to pay for family cars, trips and expenses.
The U.S. Attorney for Oregon said Thursday 51-year-old Michele Smith was sentenced to 18 months following last June’s guilty plea to one count of stealing government property.
Smith worked as lead sales and service associate for the Postal Service in East Portland until 2009. Investigators said over a nine-month period she stole over $200,000 in money orders.
Court documents showed she used stolen money to make payments on two vehicles, one for herself and one for her daughter. Agents said she also paid for a trip to Disneyland and bought other merchandise with the cash.
