| For Immediate Release Case # 10CF0649
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FORMER USPS MAIL SORTER SENTENCED TO JAIL FOR STEALING GIFT CARDS AND CASH FROM MAIL
SANTA ANA – A former employee of the United Stated Postal Service (USPS) was sentenced today to six months in jail and three years of formal probation for stealing money, gift cards, and pre-paid calling cards from the mail by seeking out colored greeting card envelopes while sorting mail for distribution. Eveline Panganiban Galermo, 37, Bellflower, pleaded guilty to a court offer to three felony counts of acquiring access cards to defraud, two felony counts of second degree commercial burglary, and one felony count of receiving stolen property.
In March 2008, Galermo started a job with USPS sorting mail at the Santa Ana Processing and Distribution Center. Between March and July 2008, the defendant stole mail, including mostly colored envelopes of greeting card size. She removed the stolen mail from the rest of the mail and felt the envelopes to determine the contents.
On several occasions, Galermo opened mail or hid mail under her shirt and stole the contents, including pre-paid calling cards, cash, and gift certificates. The defendant used stolen gift cards to purchase items at two Target stores.
The USPS Office of Inspector General began investigating the case after receiving complaints from numerous Orange County residents that cards and mail containing monetary gifts had not arrived. The victims in this case do not know each other.
Stolen mail and envelopes addressed to other people and locations were found in Galermo’s trash outside of her home. As of Aug. 1, 2008, she no longer works for USPS.
Deputy District Attorney Andrew Katz of the Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted this case.
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