HARRISBURG — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle), published as received.
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on June 6, 2022, Edward Hart, age 32, of Bronx, New York, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner following his conviction for bank fraud. Judge Conner also ordered Hart to pay victims restitution in the amount of $82,969.06 and to serve two years of supervised release following his release from prison.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Hart was a member of a conspiracy in which he and others stole mail from postal boxes, rifled that mail to find checks that had been made payable to third parties, and then altered the checks and deposited them in other bank accounts. The conspiracy formed in the New York City area and extended into central Pennsylvania. The conspiracy also involved the participation of a former Harrisburg area U.S. Postal Service employee, Kazaria Blair, who provided the conspirators access to a postal key that enabled them to open blue postal collection boxes to steal the mail. The investigation identified at least 40 stolen checks, of which 19 had been cashed, resulting in financial losses to victims.
Blair pleaded guilty on May 23, 2022, to stealing keys adopted by the post office, and is awaiting sentencing.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service – Harrisburg Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian T. Haugsby prosecuted the case.
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