SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Carol Sosik, age 55, of Shavertown, Pennsylvania, was charged in a one-count criminal information with misappropriation of postal funds from the U.S. Post Office in Dallas, Pennsylvania.
According to U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the information charges Sosik with stealing approximately $4,600 from the Dallas Post Office between June 2014 and May 2016. Sosik was employed at the Dallas Post Office as a distribution window clerk, with responsibility for sales of postage stamps.
The United States also filed a plea agreement, which is subject to the approval of the Court, wherein it is indicated that Sosik intends to pay restitution and plead guilty to the charges when she appears in federal court.
This case was investigated by the the Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
Criminal informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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