| For Immediate Release February 23, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
ORANGE COUNTY DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY RECOGNIZED BY UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE FOR PROSECUTION OF FORMER EMPLOYEE
SANTA ANA – The United States Postal Service (USPS) honored Orange County Deputy District Attorney Andrew Katz today for his handling of a case involving a former postal employee stealing gift cards and cash in greeting cards from the mail in 2010.
After receiving complaints from numerous Orange County residents regarding missing cards and mail containing monetary gifts, the USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiated an investigation. In March 2010, Katz filed a complaint against the defendant, Eveline Panganiban Galermo, an employee at the USPS Santa Ana Processing and Distribution Center. On several occasions, Galermo stole mail by seeking out colored greeting card envelopes containing pre-paid calling cards, cash and gift certificates. Katz’s prosecution efforts resulted in the former employee’s conviction on six felony counts including second degree commercial burglary, acquiring access card to defraud, acquiring multiple access cards, and receiving stolen property. She was sentenced to six months in Orange County Jail and three years probation on June 15, 2010.
“Unfortunately, there are a few postal employees, very few, who abuse the public trust placed in them. These prosecutions are not just about financial loss, they are about the sanctity of the seal. I appreciate the support shown by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and especially the diligence of DDA Andrew Katz regarding this case,” said USPS OIG, Special Agent in Charge Nichole Cooper.
The award was presented by the USPS OIG, Pacific Area Field Office, Deputy Special Agent in Charge Regina J. King and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Adrian Valdez. Special Agent Chris Hemerka, the case agent, was also in attendance.
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