PITTSBURGH - A resident of Fayette County, Pa., pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of misappropriation of postal funds and theft of mail by a postal officer and employee, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Jennifer M. Soltis, 38, of Smock, Pa., pleaded guilty to two felony counts before Senior United States District Court Judge Donetta W. Ambrose.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from Oct. 8, 2012 to Jan. 9, 2013, Soltis, while employed as the Acting Officer in Charge with the United States Postal Service at the Smock, Pa., post office, converted to her own use, postal money orders, stamps and cash having a total value of $5,729.65. On Dec. 9, 2012, Soltis also embezzeled a Wal-Mart gift card from an item of mail.
Judge Ambrose scheduled sentencing for March 26, 2013, at 2:00 P.M. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 15 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentence, the court released Soltis on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Mary McKeen Houghton is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, conducted the investigation that lead to the prosecution of Soltis.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
