FORT WORTH, Texas— A 46-year-old man, Ronald Hinshaw, who admitted writing numerous bad checks in U.S. Post Offices in Texas, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor to serve 60 months in federal prison, a sentence higher than that recommended by the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
In addition, Judge O’Connor ordered that Hinshaw pay $126,098 in restitution to the U.S. Postal Service. Hinshaw, who most recently resided in Lufkin, Texas, pleaded guilty in July 2016 to a felony information charging one count of theft of government funds. He has been in custody since he entered that plea.
"This sentence should be a signal to offenders like Ronald Hinshaw that defrauding a government entity relied upon by millions of citizens every day for safe and dependable delivery of their personal effects is a serious crime that can result in serious time,” said Ralph A. Key, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Fort Worth Division.
According to information presented during his sentencing hearing last week, Hinshaw negotiated 140 checks, totaling $126,098, at post offices throughout Texas. According to the factual resume filed in the case, on May 20, 2015, Hinshaw knowingly provided a “hot check” at a Post Office in Fort Worth to purchase 300, 20-stamp booklets of 49-cent stamps that he then sold at a reduced rate for money.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Wolfe was in charge of the prosecution.
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