Indian postal supervisor in embezzlement case

DELRAN, NJ — Amar D. Patel, from Delran, New Jersey, faces charges that he abused his position as a US Postal Service supervisor to steal cash deposits, US Attorney Paul Fishman announced earlier this month.

Patel, 35, is charged by complaint with knowingly embezzling, stealing, purloining, and converting to his use US Postal Service funds exceeding $1,000, according to the Justice Department.

According to the complaint, in July 2016, the US Postal Service Office of Inspector General started investigating shortages in cash deposits reported by the Riverside, New Jersey, Delanco, New Jersey, and Delran post offices.

Patel, who was a supervisor at those three offices, had access to deposit bags containing cash acquired during retail operations.

As part of the investigation, agents installed covert surveillance cameras inside the Riverside post office. On January 14, 2017, one of the surveillance cameras captured images of Patel tearing open a sealed deposit bag, removing cash deposits, and placing the funds into his pocket.

According to US Postal Service financial records and bank deposit records, the Riverside office’s deposit was short $1,650 on January 14, 2017.

Based on this and other information, Patel is accused of stealing $15,700 in US Postal Service funds on 12 separate occasions from February 20, 2016, through January 14, 2017.

The embezzlement charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.