On Wednesday, two Danbury residents were sentenced in Hartford Federal Court for stealing $12,300 from the U.S. Postal Service.
In August, Anthony Sterlin Cantave, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to convert public money and two counts of conversion of public money. Venus Verges, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to convert public money and one count of conversion of public money.
U.S. District Judge Michael Shea sentenced Cantave to 13 months of prison, followed by two years of supervised released. Verges was sentenced to three years of probation, during which she must complete 100 hours of community service, according to court documents.
Judge Shea also ordered the pair to pay a full restitution.
Federal authorities arrested Cantave and Verges on Jun. 20, 2014. According to court documents, the pair purchased U.S. Postal Service money orders in amounts ranging from $400 to $1,000 and deposit them into their bank accounts through a smartphone app.
Once the funds had reached their account, Cantave and Verges would return the money orders and pocket the refund. The scheme allegedly went on between August and October 2013 at post offices in Fairfield County.
Cantave and Verges were originally charged with one count of conspiracy to convert public money, which carries a maximum sentence of five years. Cantave was also charged with 11 counts and Verges with five counts of conversion of public money, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.