CARBONDALE, IL — A federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois Tuesday returned an indictment charging a Cobden woman for embezzling mail.
According to a press release, 33-year-old Athens A. Shorey – who is also known as “Athens A. DeMartini”- previously worked as a letter carrier for the Carbondale Post Office, and is alleged to have embezzled mail that was entrusted to her for delivery on May 23rd and on May 27th of this year.
According to the indictment, Shorey embezzled ten pieces of mail on May 23 and three additional pieces of mail on May 27. The indictment says that two of the three pieces of mail embezzled on May 27 were sent by banks. After the alleged embezzlements were discovered, Shorey voluntarily resigned from her position with the Postal Service.
The indictment contains two counts of embezzlement of mail by a Postal Service employee. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The arraignment for Shorey will be conducted on Sept. 28 at 10:45 a.m. at the federal courthouse in Benton.