BOSTON – A former U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee has been indicted for allegedly embezzling over $19,000.

Christine Hedges, 46, of Brockton, was indicted on March 20, 2024 on one count of theft of government money. She appeared today in federal court and was released on conditions.  

According to the indictment, Hedges began working for USPS around 2020, most recently as a Lead Sales & Service Associate in Brockton. It is alleged that from approximately October 2021 to August 2023, Hedges engaged in a scheme to steal USPS funds for her personal use. As part of this scheme, Hedges allegedly generated, for her own use, no-fee money orders without a customer physically present at her customer window and which a customer did not request. Hedges also allegedly stole cash from her USPS workstation and often attempted to conceal her theft by replacing the cash with these fraudulent money orders. During the relevant period, Hedges allegedly generated approximately 70 fraudulent no-fee money orders. It is alleged that 11 of those no-fee money orders were made out to her boyfriend or a family member. From on or about Aug. 1, 2023 to on or about Aug. 14, 2023, video surveillance from above Hedges’ workstation allegedly showed Hedges on at least one occasion removing cash from her assigned drawer and putting it in her pocket. In all, Hedges allegedly stole approximately $19,707 in postal funds.

The charge of 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. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia M. Carris, Deputy Chief of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.