Former postal workers admit theft of gift cards

NEW BRUNSWICK — Two former U.S. Postal Service workers from North Brunswick and Howell pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing more than 500 employee incentive gift cards, according to a Sept. 23 press release from Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan.

Alyse Mordoh, 56, of North Brunswick, and James Rosciano III, 48, of Howell, each pleaded guilty to a count of theft, admitting they took 562 gift cards between May 2005 and December 2007, which were collectively valued at $24,675, for personal use.

Under a plea agreement negotiated with Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Brian D. Gillet, the defendants face a term of 180 days at the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center in North Brunswick once they are sentenced. In addition, they each must make restitution for half of the value of the cards.

The co-workers were charged following an investigation by Special Agent Samuel J. Simpkins, of the U.S. Postal Service's Office of the Inspector General, and Investigator Brian Gilmurray, of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.

Both retired from their jobs after the Office of the Inspector General began its investigation, which determined that Mordoh had been obtaining the gift cards, using some of them, sharing some with Rosciano, and passing additional cards to him.R

osciano worked as an emergency management coordinator for the U.S. Postal Service, while Mordoh, who was a confidential secretary to the district manager of the U.S. Postal Service in central New Jersey, was responsible for purchasing, tracking and dispersing the gift cards as part of her job.

The cards, ranging in cost from $20 to $100, award postal workers for exemplary service and can be used to purchase items such as clothing, restaurant meals and books.

Mordoh, who pleaded guilty Sept. 21, is scheduled to be sentenced by Superior Court Judge Frederick DeVesa at the Middlesex County Courthouse in New Brunswick on Nov. 9.

Rosciano, who pleaded guilty Sept. 23, will be sentenced by DeVesa on Jan. 4.