Convicted Criminal Hired To Run A US Post Office

What was the USPS thinking?

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/loc...ffice/ncPDX/

Wow that's a shock. I thought its a requirement to run a background check on every employee they hire. She sure did have access to getting cards and the like. Maybe that's how the USPS is saving money, to heck with the public I guess. Gary

A known crook is better than an unknown surprise?

It seems that there out is it is done on an individual basis at least from what I read.
Tom

I was prepared to write about how it could just be as simple as she stole a pack of gum 20 years ago, then I read the article. Now I agree with wt1, what WERE they thinking?!

The crux of the story is this:

Court records show Allen reached a plea deal with the prosecutor's office in February 2012 and avoided a prison sentence by agreeing to restitution of the stolen funds and pleading guilty to misdemeanor crimes.

Her criminal record clearly shows just misdemeanor convictions, probably low-level ones (in NY State we have class B and class A).

Class B type convictions here in NY would likely not prevent you from most jobs.

It should definitely be publicized and now that everyone knows, the USPS is mandated to keep a close watch on her and customers can decide if they want to do business with her or drive 10 miles to some other post office.

You and I might not have hired her, but none of us knows the whole story, so we really shouldn't judge.

But the earlier statements in the article suggest that she plead guilty to "multiple counts of financial card fraud and forced to pay back nearly $3000 in embezzled funds." and in February 2012 she and her then-boyfriend were arrested on "42 criminal counts including embezzlement, identity theft and using a government computer." and in a previous work site as a Dept. of Social Services caseworker in the EBT program, she "conspired to steal nearly $3000 worth of food stamps from the program."

All of those crimes are very serious in nature given what access an acting Postmaster may have to such information belonging to the general public. I'm not judging the person or any extenuating circumstances not published, but since she nor the USPS are talking to the media about the matter, the general public has a right to be concerned that an Acting Postmaster with that kind of criminal record for embezzlement, identity theft and the like should be handling the US Mail, even in a small town.

You are absolutely right wt1 in regards to the seriousness of the charges AND the fact that USPS and public should be aware.

I am just saying - from many years experience as a reporter - that the basic knowledge of the original charges (DA's and cops often "throw the book at them" just to get their counts up - it doesn't mean that all of those charges were viable.)

She pled guilty to low-class misdemeanors to satisfy the charges AND repaid the money (42 counts for less than $3,000 total is about $9 per infraction.)

One cannot tell from this very basic info the quality of the person's character. Perhaps she was an abused woman who was compelled to go along for the ride by the man in her life; perhaps she was among the large number of "working poor" in our society who can't make ends meet on the low wages they are served up.

There is no indication she did anything violent, which I feel, would be much worse criminal offenses.

There are likely a whole more serious criminals sitting in boardrooms of big corporations right now.

It just seems to me that the woman, under the law, has done her time and paid her fine, so to speak; let those who deal with her on a daily basis make judgment.

Desperate people do desperate things.

Not many people truly find out if a person is seriously repentant in a case like this.

Many crimes have a background that says that if it is not illegal it is no good.

Sad Hey!

It seems as though the USPS made the decision to employ her with their eyes open.

We don't have enough information to determine the merits of it.

Exclude her from gainful employment and further crime becomes an easier option.

Live and let live.

I agree to a point but a small one. The nature of the crime is the concern here. It's the information of the general public that is and was at risk.

Why the surprise? Our government is full of people with criminal backgrounds. People that have lied, cheated, stole and who knows what else. From the highest office down to a local postmaster we have unqualified or criminals holding office. The question why this has been allowed to happen begs an answer. If liberals continue to vote more than conservatives this will happen. If people just don't bother to vote this will happen.

So, get out and VOTE in every election, not just every 4 years. It's our most powerful tool and it's not being used.

Sorry about the ranting.

Art

To me this doesn't seem like a job she should be doing given her track record with the credit card fraud. A position that doesn't have the temptation of money would be a better move. Let her build up a track record and then she might do okay.
Tom

Even our Vice President admitted plagiarism.