Ex-postal employee gets prison for stealing $30K

By Angel K. Brooks

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A former contractor for the U.S. Postal Service was sentenced to federal prison Wednesday for stealing more than $30,000 in government funds and using the proceeds on a golf cart, boat supplies and luxury gifts for himself and his family, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.

Kenneth Welch, 44, of Cumming, was sentenced to six months in prison, six months of home confinement and three years of supervised release. He also must perform 80 hours of community service and pay almost $33,000 in restitution.

Welch used two schemes to steal from the Postal Service while performing his duties as a contracting officer, whose fiscal responsibilities included reapplying any funds left over on valid contracts, authorities said.

From April to December 2010, Welch misused government-issued credit cards that had been turned over to him after originally being issued to other employees, according to information presented in court.

He bought more than $19,000 in gifts and used the cards to purchase a golf cart and boat motor, authorities said.

From August to December 2010, he created fraudulent contracts and paid money to his own business for repair and renovation services that the company did not complete, authorities said.

He also took some of the leftover money from construction contracts for post offices in Decatur and Warner Robins and funneled more than $13,000 of the funds to himself, they said.

"This money belongs to the government and to the people, and those who do not safeguard it will no longer work for the government or walk in freedom with the people,” U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said in a prepared statement.

Welch pleaded guilty Nov. 3.