On Tuesday of this week, a federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois returned an indictment charging Athens A. Shorey (also known as “Athens A. DeMartini”), 33, of Cobden, Illinois, with embezzling mail.

Shorey worked as a letter carrier for the Carbondale Post Office. The indictment charges that on May 23, 2020, and again on May 27, 2020, Shorey embezzled mail that had been entrusted to her for delivery. According to the indictment, Shorey embezzled ten pieces of mail on May 23, 2020, and three additional pieces of mail on May 27. The indictment charges 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, 2020, at 10:45 a.m. at the federal courthouse in Benton, Illinois.

An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charges until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

The investigation was conducted by agents from the United States Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, and officers of the Carbondale, Illinois, Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Verseman.