Date: 02-03-2020

Case Style:

Case Number: 2:18-cr-00328-MRH

Judge: J. Nicholas Ranjan

Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (Allegheny County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Christy C. Wiegand

Defendant's Attorney:

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Description: Pittsburgh, PA - The United States of America charged John Martell with conspiracy to steal government property and uttering and possession false securities.

A former resident of Cheswick, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 18 months’ imprisonment and a three-year term of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $37,590 in restitution to the United States Postal Service, on his conviction of conspiracy, theft of government property and uttering and possessing false securities, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on John Martell, 39.

According to information presented to the Court, between approximately April 23, 2018 and June 11, 2018, Martell and his codefendant, Holly Lovasik, who was a former employee of the United States Postal Service, engaged in a stamp theft scheme in order to pay a debt they owed to their drug dealer. The coconspirators purchased $34,800 in stamps from approximately 28 different Post Offices in the Western District of Pennsylvania, using checks that were written on closed accounts and checks that belonged to two deceased doctors that were falsely altered, completed and signed. Martell and Lovasik then re-sold the stamps for cash, predominantly at a pawn shop in Tarentum, PA. The court was further informed that, in addition to the stamp theft, the United States Post Office incurred $2,790 in check surcharges, for a total loss of $37,590.

The United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Martell.

Charges:

18 U.S.C. 371 CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT OFFENSES AGAINST THE UNITED STATES
(1)

18 U.S.C. 641 THEFT OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY.
(2)

18:513(a) UTTERING AND POSSESSING FORGED SECURITY.
(4-6)

Outcome: Defendant was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment; 3 years supervised release; mandatory special assessment of $500.00; fine waived for inability to pay; mandatory restitution of $37,590.00.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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