Mass. postmaster who used stolen money at casinos pleads guilty

A 48-year-old woman who worked as the postmaster for the Seekonk Post Office pleaded guilty to federal charges on Wednesday for stealing close to $20,000 through no-fee money orders.

Bethany LeBlanc, of Seekonk, pleaded guilty to a single count of theft of government money. Her sentencing is set for Oct. 29. LeBlanc was arrested and charged in May, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foley’s office said in a statement.

LeBlanc was the postmaster at the Seekonk Post Office from November 2023 to February 2025. Before she got the job, she worked at the United States Postal Service as a carrier, window clerk and customer service manager, Foley’s office said.

In her role as postmaster, LeBlanc could issue and approve “no fee” money orders. Those orders are generated by the postal service as an alternative to sending cash or a check through the mail. “No fee” orders are issued only to pay USPS expenses, according to the statement.

LeBlanc generated 25 “no-fee” orders to herself, totaling close to $20,000. To cover up the scheme, LeBlanc presented false invoices for USPS expenses to clerks at the Seekonk Post Office, who would then issue the orders, prosecutors said.

For two of the orders, LeBlanc wrote “Fire Dept. Box” in the memo section to create the appearance the orders were used to pay for expenses related to the Post Office. For many others, LeBlanc wrote the names of her relatives and associates to create the appearance the money was coming from sources other than USPS, Foley’s office said.

LeBlanc used the stolen money for personal expenses, including thousands of dollars spent at casinos, according to the statement.

She faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.