Prosecutors: 2 Postal Service station managers part of scheme

BALTIMORE —Four people, including two U.S. Postal Service station managers, have been indicted in connection with a bribery scheme to get money from the USPS.

Richard Wright III, 46; Kimberly Parnell, 43; Shane Anderson, 37; all of Baltimore, and Ladena Sketers-Anderson, 47, of Randallstown, were indicted Wednesday on charges of bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud and mail fraud.

The group is accused of accepting and taking bribes in return for landscaping, snow removal and cleaning services contracts.

“Officials who exercise governmental authority are obligated to use it for the public good and not to advance their own financial interests,” said U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein.

Prosecutors said Wright was the station manager of the Waverly USPS location and Parnell was the station manager at the Pikesville branch. The pair knew each other, and in October 2007, the two began a scheme of approving and submitting false and inflated invoices for maintenance work that was allegedly done at their stations by Anderson, Sketers-Anderson and others.

Officials said the group would then split a percentage of the funds Anderson and Sketers-Anderson got from the USPS.

The 29-count indictment means the defendants could face up to five years in prison each on the conspiracy charge and 15 years each on the bribery charge. The defendants could also be forced to pay more than $780,000 in restitution.

No court appearances have been scheduled yet.

via 4 indicted in bribery scheme involving USPS | Maryland News – WBAL Home.