The following is a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota:

A federal indictment, unsealed earlier today in St. Paul, charges a postal carrier with stealing approximately $4,000 in cash and gift cards from the mail she delivered.

The indictment, which was filed on March 16, 2011, charges Michelle Lynn Bressette, age 43, of Jordan, with one count of theft of mail by postal employee. The indictment was unsealed following Bressette’s initial appearance in federal court. The indictment alleges that from December of 2009 through October 21, 2010, Bressette, an employee of the Prior Lake Post Office, stole money and gift cards from the mail.

If convicted, Bressette faces a potential maximum penalty of five years in prison. All sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge. This case is the result of an
investigation by the United States Postal Service-Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad.

An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.