Fort Wayne Woman Charged

FORT WAYNE – The Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, Clifford D. Johnson, announced that Erin Clowser, age 34, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was charged via a federal criminal complaint with theft of US Mail, access device fraud and aggravate identity theft.

The criminal complaint alleges that on or about November 2016, the United States Postal Inspection Service began receiving complaints of mail theft from the 46845 zip code area. Clowser allegedly, took both mail that was delivered before it could be picked up by the respective owners and mail that was outgoing in boxes with the flags up before it could be picked up by postal carriers. Once the mail was taken, Clowser allegedly converted stolen checks for her own personal use. Clowser allegedly obtained a debit card belonging to another individual, and from March 2017 through April 2017, used that debit card to make unauthorized purchases and ATM withdrawals totaling over $50,000.

Clowser is scheduled for an initial appearance on these charges today before a United States District Court Magistrate Judge. .

The United States Attorney’s office emphasizes that a Complaint is merely an allegation and that all persons are presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty in court.

If convicted, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

These charges result from a joint investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Fort Wayne Safe Streets Task Force, the Allen County Sheriff’s Department and the Indiana State Police. This case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.

Any individuals or businesses located within the 46845 zip code that suspect that their mail may have stolen between November 2016 and April 2017 are urged to report such information to the Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455 or the FBI at 317-595-4000.

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