Former USPS employee charged with stealing $19,000 worth of fraudulent money orders

A former US Postal Service employee has been indicted for allegedly embezzling over $19,000 .

Christine Hedges, 46, of Brockton Massachusetts was indicted on March 20, on one count of theft of government money. The US Attorney's Office for Massachusetts said she has been released with conditions.

Hedges began working at the Brockton branch of the USPS post office in 2020 and moved up to lead sales and service associate.

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She allegedly developed an elaborate fraud scheme around October 2021, where she would generate no-fee money orders for her personal use. Hedges would take cash from her station and replace the stolen money with fake money orders, prosecutors said.

She is accused of generating 70 fraudulent money orders - 11 of which were made out to her boyfriend. In August 2023, video surveillance from above Hedges’ workstation appears to have shown Hedges on at least one occasion removing cash from her assigned drawer and putting it in her pocket.

Prosecutors believe that in total, Hedges embezzled approximately $19,707 from the USPS.

Theft of government money provides a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

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