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U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea sentenced Tony Sterlin Cantave, 34, to 13 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release, and Venus Verges, 34, to three years of probation, during which time she must perform 100 hours of community service.
According to court documents and statements, between August and October 2013, Cantave and Verges purchased U.S. Postal Service money orders in amounts ranging from $400 to $1,000 at post offices in Stamford, Bridgeport, Greenwich, and lower Westchester County, N.Y.
After the money orders were purchased, the defendants used a mobile banking application to deposit the funds into bank accounts they controlled. Shortly after depositing the funds, the defendants returned to the post offices from which the respective money orders had been purchased, failed to disclose that they had deposited the funds, returned the money orders and were refunded their money.
The defendants stole $12,300 from the U.S. Postal Service during this scheme, Daly said.
Cantave and Verges were arrested June 20, 2014.
On Aug. 20, 2014, Cantave pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to convert public money and two counts of conversion of public money. Verges pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to convert public money and one count of conversion of public money.
Shea ordered both defendants to pay full restitution.
This matter was by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John H. Durham.
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