Former postal employee indicted

Federal officials say a former U.S. Postal Service employee in Franklin County is charged with misappropriation of postal money.

Joan Pearson, 52, 1498 Blue Creek Road, Vina, was indicted this week by a federal grand jury, according to U.S. Attorney General Joyce White Vance.

Public Information Officer Sam Montalvo, of the Southeast Postal Service Office of Inspector General, said Pearson is accused of embezzling about $3,000 in money orders. She was an employee at the post office in Vina.

Montalvo said Pearson was in the post master relief position during the period in which she is accused of embezzling the money.

Montalvo did not know how long Pearson worked at the Vina post office, but he said she resigned Nov. 20, a few months after the investigation began in September, according to authorities.

"She learned of the investigation and resigned, but the investigation continued until the point we're at now," Montalvo said.

He said an audit revealed money orders that were supposed to have been issued under Pearson's responsibility were not reported as being purchased.

"Basically, she was taking the money for the money orders (that she sold) but was not reporting them as sold to the post office," Montalvo said.

He said once authorities discovered the discrepancies, they confronted Pearson and she confessed.

Pearson said she planned to repay the money, but got caught before she could do so, according to authorities.

Pearson faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

A date for her case to be heard has not been scheduled.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.