A former Morrisville postmaster was sentenced last week to three years of probation for stealing more than $118,000 through fraudulent postal money orders, federal prosecutors said.
Delos Thurston, 28, of Clinton, was sentenced Aug. 27 by Senior U.S. District Judge Glenn Suddaby. The court also ordered him to pay $118,088.19 in restitution.
Prosecutors said Thurston used his position as postmaster between April 2025 and January 2026 to issue 179 fraudulent money orders. He kept the proceeds rather than transmitting the money through the Postal Service, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York.
Thurston previously admitted the conduct in court. The sentencing resolves the federal criminal case, though the probation term will require him to comply with conditions set by the court.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarcone III said the case involved an abuse of public trust and thanked investigators for tracing the transactions.
Matthew Modafferi of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General said the agency investigates employees accused of misusing postal systems or funds.
The Postal Service inspector general's office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew McCrobie prosecuted it.
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