Ex-Postal Service employee indicted on theft charges

HOUSTON, TX -- A 33-year-old resident of Houston has been charged with five counts of theft of public money and five counts of issuing postal money orders without receiving payment, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Tranese Nicole Mitchell is set to appear before U.S. District Judge Dena H. Palermo this afternoon.

A federal grand jury returned the 10-count indictment Dec. 10.

Mitchell was employed as a lead sales and service clerk at the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in Houston, according to the charges. During that time, the indictment alleges she committed the theft and improper issuance of money orders from approximately June 2018 through December 2018.

Each count of theft of public money carries a possible sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison, issuing postal money orders without receiving payment carries a possible sentence of up to five years, upon conviction. Each conviction also carries a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

USPS - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Braddock is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.