A former employee of the U.S. Postal Service has admitted to embezzling funds exceeding $18,000. Christine Hedges, a 47-year-old resident of Brockton, pleaded guilty to a count of theft of government money in the federal court of Boston. The decision comes from U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs, who has scheduled the sentencing for June 18, 2025. Hedges was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024.
Hedges' tenure at USPS began around 2020, culminating in her role as a Lead Sales & Service Associate in Brockton. The illegal activities spanned from October 2021 to August 2023, during which Hedges engaged in fraudulent practices to convert USPS funds for her personal use. This primarily included generating no-fee money orders without a customer present, covering thefts of cash from her workstation with these fraudulent orders. Approximately 64 fraudulent money orders were reported, and 11 were directed to her boyfriend or family members. Surveillance from August 2023 captured Hedges pocketing cash from her assigned drawer.
The theft charge could result in a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, alongside three years of supervised release and a potential $250,000 fine. Federal district court judges base sentences on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and pertinent statutes.
The development was announced by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina E. Barclay from the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit.