DURYEA MAN SENTENCED TO 16 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR STEALING $437,500 IN TRAVELERS CHEQUES

Martin C. Carlson, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced today that the second of four defendants has been sentenced for his participation in a scheme involving $437,500 in stolen Visa Travelers Cheques. Joseph “Josh” Mehal, age 40, of Duryea, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment by District Court Judge James M. Munley on a charge of theft from an interstate shipment. Two other co-defendants await sentencing in the case, which was the result of a two-year joint investigation by Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); the Pennsylvania State Police–Organized Crime Task Force; and the United States Department of Labor.

In an Indictment returned last December, a Scranton federal Grand Jury alleged that in May 2002, Joseph “Josh” Mehal, age 40, of Duryea, Pennsylvania, while employed at a Federal Express depot in Pittston, Pennsylvania, stole packages containing Visa Travelers Cheques that were being shipped to various parts of the country. Mehal pleaded guilty to stealing the checks. Francis Scarcella, age 67, of Hazleton was sentenced early this week to three years’ probation for lying about his involvement in the scheme. Albert “Butchie” Serino, age 65, of Pittston, Pennsylvania, and John Gruzenski, age 64 of Laflin, Pennsylvania, have pleaded guilty to possession of the stolen checks for their part in dealing a portion of the cheques to an undercover informant. They await sentencing by Judge Munley.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Munley ordered Mehal to pay a $100 special assessment and be jointly and severally liable with his co-defendants for $16,900 which represents the amount of cheques negotiated. The majority of the cheques–over $378,000—were recovered by federal agents during the investigation.

This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the Pennsylvania State Police–Organized Crime Task Force, and the United States Department of Labor and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian A. Fisanick, Chief of the Criminal Division.

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