Champaign, Ill. (Chambana Today) – A former United States Postal Service postmaster in Champaign County has been sentenced after pleading guilty to embezzling more than $36,000 in money orders from the Postal Service.
Brandi L. Harmon, who served as postmaster at the USPS facility located at 600 N. Neil Street in Champaign, admitted to stealing 47 blank money order forms between May 2023 and March 2024. According to court records, Harmon used her position to take the money orders from multiple postal facilities, transferring approximately $36,788 to herself or others without paying the required fees.
In total, Harmon’s actions cost the Postal Service an estimated $36,910.
Originally indicted on 47 counts—one for each money order—Harmon pleaded guilty on April 23 to five of those counts (5, 15, 30, 42, and 47). The remaining charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
On August 25, Harmon was sentenced to a term of time served for each count. In addition, she will serve three years of supervised release and has been ordered to repay the full amount stolen.
The case underscores ongoing efforts by federal authorities to crack down on internal fraud and maintain public trust in the U.S. Postal Service. No additional charges are expected at this time.
