GREAT FALLS, Mont. (NMB) – A former U.S. Postal Service worker who admitted to going through mail and stealing cash and gift cards from envelopes has been sentenced.
Amanda Jean Holland, 38, of Sunburst, was sentenced last week in U.S. District Court in Great Falls to two years of probation, fined $1,000 and ordered to pay $2,065 in restitution after pleading guilty to theft of mail by a postal employee and destruction of mail by a postal employee.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided
Court documents state that while Holland was a part-time USPS employee in the Sweet Grass office in 2019, the Postal Service received reports that cash and greeting cards sent to the area did not reach their destinations. Some people reported that their envelopes were delivered, but they were torn open and resealed and were missing cash.
An investigation using test mailings with envelopes containing gift cards and surveillance cameras led to Holland. The gift cards were redeemed to buy jewelry, clothes and candy, and the cameras showed Holland acting suspiciously while working, including placing mail in her apron and cash in a personal bag.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla Painter prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General.
