NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

MATT J. WHITWORTH

Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106

www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html

APRIL 1, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FORMER REPUBLIC POSTMASTER INDICTED

FOR MISAPPROPRIATING $40,000

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Matt J. Whitworth, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that the former postmaster for the Republic, Mo., Post Office was indicted by a federal grand jury today for misappropriating more than $40,000.

Donna Rippee, 62, of Republic, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield.

Today’s indictment alleges that Rippee converted to her own use $40,374 that had come into her hands and was under her control in the execution of her postal duties. The federal indictment also charges Rippee with misappropriating $2,000 in postal money orders.

Whitworth cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General.

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