Jacksonville, Florida - U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the arrest of U.S. Postal employee Badi Mohamed (30, Jacksonville) on Jan. 31, 2017, for conspiracy to defraud the United States, theft of government money, and theft of mail. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment, and he could be ordered to pay at least $20,741 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
In addition, U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis yesterday sentenced U.S. Postal employee Veronica Skrine (54, Jacksonville) to two years’ probation in a related case, which includes a one-month term of home confinement, for conspiracy to defraud the United States and theft of government property. She also was ordered to pay $44,334.23 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. Skrine pleaded guilty on Nov. 18, 2016.
According to court documents, Skrine conspired with another individual, Lorne Jordan, to cash stolen United States Treasury checks in the names of others. She and Jordan entered into an arrangement in 2013, and again in 2015, to use her employment at a U.S. Post Office to accept Treasury checks in other persons’ names and to cash them using funds held by the U.S. Postal Service. Skrine was paid $100 per $1,000 of the face value of each check.
On Aug. 23, 2016, Jordan was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States, theft of government funds, and aggravated identity theft. She also was ordered to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $120,713.09.
These cases were investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Office of Inspector General, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the North Florida Financial Crimes Task Force. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
