April 04, 2008

FORMER U.S. POST OFFICE COUNTER CLERK CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY TO
NEGOTIATE COUNTERFEIT U.S. CURRENCY

SACRAMENTO—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that ANDREA LYNN GRAVELLE, 37, of Waterford and RICK LEE SNOW, 45, of Modesto were arraigned yesterday by United States Magistrate Judge Dale A. Drozd for felony conspiracy and counterfeit currency charges.

This case is the product of an extensive investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service Department, and the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rodriguez, who is prosecuting the case, GRAVELLE was employed by the U.S. Postal Service as a Post Office Counter Clerk from April 2005 through January 2008. GRAVELLE’s duty station was the Hughson Post Office in Hughson, California. GRAVELLE is charged with conspiring with her former boyfriend, SNOW, to accept counterfeit currency in exchange for cash and Postal Money Orders. GRAVELLE conducted these transactions over the counter while working. The couple also is charged with successfully passing counterfeit currency, namely counterfeit $20 Federal Reserve Notes on March 19, 2007 through the Hughson Post Office.

Upon conviction, each defendant faces a sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and federal supervised release of up to three years following any period of incarceration. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables and any applicable statutory sentencing factors.

The defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in Sacramento on March 27, 2008. SNOW remains in federal custody, while GRAVELLE has been ordered released subject to numerous conditions, including that she reside at a community confinement center pending pretrial proceedings. They are scheduled to appear before U.S. District Court Judge Edward J. Garcia on May 9, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.

The United States Attorney’s Office noted that the charges are only accusations, and that each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

more...

For more information on federal criminal defense law, contact the Law Offices of Joseph Shemaria of Los Angeles, California.