GREAT FALLS-The United States Attorney’s Office announces that Brockton, Montana, resident and ex-Postmaster Relief Jana Nygard was sentenced today to 14 months imprisonment followed by three years supervised release for stealing over $50,000 from the Brockton post office. U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris ordered Nygard to serve the first seven months in prison and the last seven months in home detention so she could begin paying back restitution. The court ordered her to pay $50,392.81 in restitution.
In an Offer of Proof filed with the court, Assistant United States Attorney Laura Weiss said that Nygard embezzled from the United States Post Office during the summer of 2013. She issued money orders for personal use and failed to provide payment for the money orders she stole. She also issued money orders to customers but failed to remit the funds received for the money orders. She repeated that process with approximately 145 money orders, valued at $43,213.98. She also stole $1,606.86 in stamp revenue. The shortage resulted from Nygard selling stamps but then using the money to cover the sale in the amount of $5,571.97. In total, she embezzled more than $50,300 while working as the Postmaster Relief. In October 2014, Nygard pleaded guilty to Embezzlement of Government Property.
“The majority of U.S. Postal Service employees are dedicated public servants who take great pride in ensuring the sanctity and security of U.S. Postal Service property and its funds," U.S.P.S. Office of Inspector General Special Agent in Charge Pete Gately said. “Unfortunately, Jana Nygard betrayed the trust placed in her by the Postal Service and the public she was sworn to serve. Her actions resulted in deserved consequences for such behavior."
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Laura Weiss prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
