Brenda Janak, 50, of North Pole, has been charged with four counts of second-degree felony theft and one count each of fraudulent use of an access device and third-degree misdemeanor theft. The felony charges each carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Janak allegedly took four $25 Wal-Mart gift cards that were packed into a single envelope on Dec. 17.
The gift cards were from a Washington woman sending a Christmas present to her great-grandchildren in Fairbanks.
Janak, who is reportedly no longer employed by the postal service, is accused of redeeming the cards herself.
The case was investigated by the Anchorage-based Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Postal Service. Efforts to contact the office late Thursday afternoon were unsuccessful.
Janak has no prior criminal history in Alaska. She is scheduled to be arraigned June 8.
Contact staff writer Chris Freiberg at
459-7545.
I don’t know you or the situation between you and your ex. I never mentioned whether my friend was male or female, nor did I mention where, when or how the "alleged" fraud occurred, or any dollar amount involved. I can only assume by your post that you think your ex is who I’m referencing. In any case, you sound a little defensive about something that apparently didn’t happen.
Also, if you opened an account and deposited all of the money and only one signature was required, then I don’t see how you could reasonably assume that your account was the one the money was taken from. The account I mentioned did, in fact, require dual signatures and positive identification to withdraw funds. So, you are the one who commented about your “business.”
We are in a country where one is innocent until proven guilty. And, for the good of everyone, I hope Ms Janak is found not guilty of these charges. They are very serious and will likely ruin her life.
However, this is also a country where the First Amendment guarantees the right of speech. Slander is when someone intentionally lies about you and harms your reputation. What I said was the truth as I know it. Since the person in question is already charged with several counts of federal felony theft, I don’t believe any harm was brought to anyone’s reputation.
Of course, if the DNM staff or editors feel that any comments are a violation of the First Amendment in any way, they have the right to remove them for their own protection.
If this DaleSr wants to continue these types of comments, I can and will turn this over to my lawyer, who will lodge a protest to this newspaper and I will bring whatever charges I can possibly can for printing these blatant faleshoods. I thought we lived in a country where we were innocent until proven guilty by a jury of our peers. I would also apprecitate no further comments about my business and my son's on this forum, as I said before he is a minor child, and I pray that he does not read this or hear about these blatant lies, he has a hard enought time coping with life as a 14 year old, he does not and will not be subjected to mudslinging by an uncaring mother and her friends, please do not make me get an injuction about this matter. I can guarante that with the law on my side it will not be pretty for those involved. Enough said, please allow me and my son to live in peace.
Did a single mother of two need money bad enough to steal a child's Christmas gift from Grandma? I doubt it very much. Since one of her children is out of the house with a respectible job. The other is old enough to support himself, if he had the initiative.
More likely, she's just greedy, heartless, and too lazy to earn money for things she needs and/or wants by getting a better or another job, like honest people do.
And to akmamabear, I say that I completely believe that she was remorseful about her actions. But, was she remorseful as she was stealing money from children? No, I don't think so. Criminals typically only show remorse after being caught. I know I'm not remorseful about speeding, but I would be if I got caught at it.
p.s. My buddies & I laugh every time I see a sixburgh t-shirt....should say 3 & done....love the way taglibooo retired right after the XL Bogus Bowl.... must have gotten paid well for that one....
Back to the subject maybe a public floggin is would be in line for Brenda thats the way her kids would see a good example of what should happen to theives....
What I was trying to say is.....If you going to commit a crime of theft and trash your career steal something worth while. If she stole tens of thousands of dollars of credit cards, checks or whatever I can see someone doing that.
NO! I am not condoning it in by any stretch of your imagination whatsoever.
I cannot see someone throwing away their career and facing possible prison time for $100.00!
Now that's crime of stupidity!
I agree with you wholeheartedly.
akmamabear- I am sure most of us on here are able to FORGIVE (you are judging now ).But REALITY is,Brenda may be sorrowful, but she has shown herself to be a THIEF.You mention single mother, I know many single mothers who are not thieves and do not even have a job half as good as Brenda's.
One can be forgiven, but TRUST has to be earned.And not everybody learns from their mistakes.
You scold us for name calling, yet you name call the court reporter.
You say I hope this never happens to you.
It wont, because I CHOOSE to not be a thief.
You mention PEARLYGATES - Many of us will be joining you, and you may be suprised -that as we used our God given reasoning in making rational decisions- you called judgements.
Peace to all and that includes Brenda.
Honestly, I appreciate your sensitivity and spirit, but when you say, "hope this never happens to you", I think you've got it wrong.
This isn't something which "happened" to your friend. She was a public employee, with a job many would envy, who chose to betray the public's trust.
What she did was volitional, intentional. She isn't a passive victim who had something bad "happen" to her. She is (if she is guilty) a perpetrator who did something bad to others.
The people who were messed up by having their mailed valuables stolen are the ones who had something "happen" to them.
Your friend has my future best wishes, but if she's guilty, she's going to have to do her time.
As far as no criminal record in Alaska. Again this is exactly what I meant as Chris Frieberg being a horrible reporter to get a story. NO criminal actions anywhere, ever!!!!!
If she is guilty,( but you make it sound as if she's confessed,akmamabear,) the court's sentencing will take into account she had no prior criminal convictions.
(Note the article states " no prior criminal convictions in Alaska." What about elsewhere?)
I am typing your quote...You're saying it's okay to steal as long as it's big???? Who needs the psych exam?????
Excuse me, but you people need more in your life to do than slam others...
I know her... I talked to her and saw the remorse and sorrow, not from being caught but from her actions and she did try to right the situation. A single mother who has taught her children to be truthful and honest. She screwed up. Heaven forbid should any of us make a mistake. Trust me when I say not all the facts were printed.
She will remain my friend forever.. Only God is perfect, we all make mistakes and at some point make bad decisions. We learn from our mistakes.
Who are you to judge? Come judgement day, I plan on walking through the pearly gates. What ever happened to understanding and Forgiveness???
P.S. Steelerchick is Pittsburg Steelers not stealer as in theft!!!
This is a big problem. The woman GOT CAUGHT for stealing $100, but it is very likely she stole much much more before getting caught. She probably was stealing enough to make it seem worth the risk.
WHAT HAPPENED TO INNOCENT TILL PROVEN GUILTY!
I HOPE SHE IS PROVEN INNOCENT SO ALL OF YOU PEOPLE HAVE TO EAT YOUR WORDS!
AND CHENASTEAMER... ITS STEELERCHICK AS IN THE FOOTBALL TEAM... LEARN TO SPELL YOU JERK!
Of course we bad mouth Brenda and call her names.
What would you rather we say.
"Oh how nice of Brenda to steal our mail,how lovely she steals mail meant for the children,hey,just fabulous that she would violate public trust and rob us of our mail."
steelerchick,NORMAL people do not like it when folks indulge in criminal behavior.THIS IS A CRIME.
And she had quite a good paying job. but such GREED and a COLD heart for her neighbors.
steelerchick- you sound like the perfect ENABLER.Enabling all types of disrespectful conduct.Sounds like you have a DIFFICULT time discerning - right -from wrong.
I feel sorry for you actually - you show more pity for the criminal,than you do for innocent folk.That is a scary place to be at steelerchick
And what kind of cretinous scumbag would steel gift cards from Grandma that were sent to the grand children. Those kids might have had to wonder if Grandma still loved them because nothing came. A postal delivery person is in a position of trust. How shameful.
My question is: is she a friend, family, or the girl in the mirror?