Press release from the U.S. Department of Justice

PHOENIX – Carol Sekayumptewa, 41, of Kykotsmovi, Ariz. and a former U.S. Postmaster, was sentenced on January 28, 2009 by U.S. Magistrate Judge Michelle Hamilton-Burns to six months of probation. She was also ordered to pay $1,000 restitution to the U.S. Postal Service after pleading guilty to Misappropriation of Postal Funds.

On February 11, 2008, Sekayumptewa issued a U.S. Postal money order for her personal use without paying for it and never reported the money order as sold. Sekayumptewa had served as Kykotsmovi Postmaster for three years and resigned her position on July 2, 2008.

“We will continue to work with law enforcement to pursue prosecution against public officials who violate the public’s trust,” stated Diane J. Humetewa, U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona. “Ensuring the integrity of the U.S. Postal Service, and all other federal agencies, is one of the highest priorities of my office.”

“The United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG) considers theft of Postal funds by Postal employees to be a very serious issue,” said David Montoya, Special Agent in Charge of the USPS OIG Western Area Field Office. “The overwhelming majority of the more than 600,000 Postal employees are honest, hardworking, and trustworthy individuals who would never consider engaging in any form of criminal behavior. But when a Postal employee betrays that trust, our Special Agents will vigorously investigate those matters, as we did in this case.”

The investigation in this case was conducted by the USPS OIG. The prosecution was handled by Charles F. Hyder, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.