Local News in Brief : Money Order Theft Case
A retired San Fernando Valley postal worker has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a scheme to cash in $400,000 worth of bogus money orders, the largest such case in the history of the U.S. Postal Service.
Abraham Rothman, 67, of Sherman Oaks pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and four counts of selling and conveying government property without authority, said his attorney, James D. Gregory.
A second former postal worker, Gilbert Capaldo, 43, pleaded not guilty Monday to conspiracy and 25 counts of theft of government property. His trial is scheduled for Sept. 20, Gregory said.
Rothman told U.S. District Judge Harry Hupp that while working at the Van Nuys Post Office he stole money orders and imprinted them with a dollar amount, Gregory said. After he retired, Rothman persuaded Capaldo to join in the scheme, Gregory said.
A federal indictment alleged that the two cashed about 600 money orders over a year, beginning in July, 1986. The scheme was discovered when postal officials noticed that several books of money orders were missing.
Rothman is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 3.
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