Show-Me State Times

A U.S. Postal Service mail handler in St. Louis has been indicted on charges of pandemic fraud and stealing checks from the mail, according to an announcement made Wednesday by the U.S. District Court.

Anthony Virdure II, 29, faces three counts of mail theft and one count of wire fraud. The indictment alleges that Virdure stole checks worth over $1.5 million while working at the Postal Service Processing and Distribution Center located at 1720 Market Street in St. Louis. He had access to all first-class mail processed through the center.

Additionally, Virdure is accused of fraudulently obtaining a $20,832 Pandemic Protection Program (PPP) loan in 2021 for a tobacco store named Virdure Dynamics. The indictment claims that he provided false information about the business’s income and submitted a falsified IRS Schedule C as part of his application. The listed address for the store was reportedly his grandmother’s house.

It is important to note that charges outlined in an indictment are accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The wire fraud charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Each mail theft charge could result in up to five years in prison and similar fines.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwen Carroll is handling the prosecution.