Mishawaka Man Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison

SOUTH BEND - Joseph Traver, 35 years old, of Mishawaka, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to bank fraud and possession of stolen mail, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.

Traver was sentenced to 12 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.

According to documents in the case, between September 2023 and January 2024, Traver stole mail out of official collection boxes that were located outside the United States Post Office in Osceola, Indiana. He intercepted checks that had been mailed at that location from at least three identified victims and interrupted postal delivery of the mail. He also altered one check from the stolen mail matter and fraudulently deposited the check at a financial institution.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the St. Joseph County Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah T. Jones.