A former Roslindale Post Office employee was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with embezzling mail.

Megan Hawes, 29, of Roslindale, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to two years of supervised release and 80 hours of community service. In December 2018, Hawes pleaded guilty to one count of theft of mail matter by a Postal Service employee.

From September 2016 to May 2018, Hawes was employed by the United States Postal Service (USPS) as a postal carrier assigned to Roslindale. While in that capacity, between approximately March 2017 and May 10, 2018, Hawes embezzled and stole more than 9,700 pieces of U.S. mail that she never delivered. She sifted through and stole the contents of some of the mail that contained cash and gift cards. On May 10, 2018, USPS was notified that there was a car at an impound lot in Weymouth that contained voluminous amounts of undelivered and opened mail. USPS determined Hawes had used that car while in her postal carrier capacity. That same day, USPS interviewed Hawes, who ultimately admitted that she had been stealing mail and not delivering it. She also admitted to opening some of the stolen parcels looking for cash and gift cards.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office; and Weymouth Police Chief Richard C. Grimes made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

On Tuesday, March 5, at about 7:30 p.m. Officer James White and Kyle Gomes while on patrol, observed a red Ford F-150 with damage to its passenger side mirror, in the area of the Narrows Bridge. This vehicle matched the description of the one which had struck a woman on Marion Road Monday night and fled the scene.

The officers stopped the vehicle on Main Street and after an investigation determined the operator to be impaired and placed him under arrest. Paul Randon, 63, of West Wareham, is being charged with, operating under the influence of liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and possession of an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.

Mr. Randon was transported to police headquarters where he was questioned by detectives regarding the accident on Monday night. As a result of that investigation, Mr. Randon will be facing additional charges for leaving the scene.

On Monday, March 4, at 9:37 p.m. Wareham Police responded to Pepin’s Liquors on Cranberry Highway in West Wareham for an armed robbery. The clerk reported that a male entered the store brandishing a firearm and a bag with a drawstring demanding to have it filled with money.

The description given to officers was a black male with brown eyes, 5’9” tall, heavy set, wearing black sneakers and black gloves, with a large blue puffy winter coat. The suspect was also wearing a blue handkerchief over part of his face. After further investigation, it was determined that another person who was standing by the edge of the parking lot during the robbery left with the suspect on foot on Cranberry Highway in the Weaver Street area.

Officers set up a perimeter and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office had a K-9 unit on the scene immediately. Despite an exhaustive search of the area, no suspects were located. If anyone has information on this robbery they are urged to contact the Wareham Police Department.

On Monday, March 4, at 6:53 p.m. Wareham Police responded to the area Marion Road at Swifts Beach Road for the report of a hit and run accident involving a pedestrian.

At the scene, Officer Joseph Cardoza discovered that a 48-year-old Wareham resident had been struck while using the crosswalk. The operator of the vehicle never stopped and it is believed the suspect vehicle is a red Ford F150 pick-up truck. The victim suffered apparently minor injuries and was transported to Tobey Hospital. The case remains under investigation.

If you have any information regarding this case please contact the Wareham Police Department.

On Monday, March 4th, 2019, New Bedford Police Narcotics continued its crackdown on drug distribution services in the city, concluding an investigation into a cocaine distribution service being operated out of 37 Ashley Street.

Police arrested Joeshua Matos-Dejesus, 22; Brian Santiago, 18; and Luis Santiago, 21; all of 37 Ashley Street, after a search warrant resulted in the discovery of more than 19 grams of crack cocaine and two firearms.

All three men were charged with trafficking cocaine in excess of 18 grams. Matos-Dejesus and Brian Santiago were also charged each with unlawful possession of a firearm and additional firearm and narcotics violations.

Joeshua Matos-Dejesus currently has three open cases in New Bedford District Court; two of those cases are connected to narcotics violations.

All three men are due to be arraigned at New Bedford Third District Court on Tuesday, March 5th, 2019.

Over the past two months, members of the New Bedford Police Department Narcotics Unit broke up five separate drug distribution services, arresting six alleged drug traffickers.

The Immigrants’ Assistance Center, Inc. (IAC) received a capital grant in the amount of $23,000 from the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation to establish a technology-based learning environment for English language, citizenship classes, and workplace readiness training.

In a unique partnership, the IAC and Mass Hire Greater New Bedford Career Center, have formed the first-ever Citizenship and Workforce Readiness program. This program will offer new U.S. citizens the opportunity to develop job-based computer skills, contribute to the workforce and increase economic mobility.

At the core of the IAC’s services is citizenship. The IAC encourages everyone who is eligible to apply for citizenship as the only permanent protection for immigrants, as well as the key to securing employment and self-sufficiency. Since 2016, citizenship applications at the IAC have grown 350%.

The IAC’s multi-lingual team of teachers, case managers, tutors, and volunteers will take students through all levels of learning. The computer classroom will enable students to take advantage of online tools for learning English and U.S. civics and to practice test-taking in an online environment, as the citizenship test is no longer administered on paper. MassHire will provide computer-based job training in the IAC’s computer classroom.

The Immigrants’ Assistance Center is determined to respond to the current human services crisis around immigration by stepping up to meet the increased demand in low-income clients seeking U.S. citizenship. Computers in the classroom will not just put more immigrants in New Bedford on the pathway to citizenship, but will reduce barriers to economic mobility for these new U.S. citizens, with repercussions that will positively impact the City’s workforce development for years to come.

On Monday, March 4 around 3 pm, New Bedford police arrested three men at 37 Ashley Street on varies drug and gun charges.

22-year old Joeshua Desesus Matos was arrested for possession without a license a Ruger .38 Special with five rounds of ammunition and a Taurus .380 TCP with 6 rounds of ammunition. He is also being charged with improper storage of the firearms. He is also being charged with trafficking 19 grams of cocaine, conspiracy to violate drug laws and possession of 15 tablets of Alprazolam. Additionally, he is being charged with receiving stolen property of less than $1,200 and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration.

18-year old Brian Santiago is being charged with trafficking in cocaine, two counts of possession of a firearm without a license, two counts of improper storage of a firearm, receiving stolen property of less than $1,200, possession to distribute a class E drug, unlawful possession of Mace and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

21-year old Luis Santiago is being charged with trafficking 19 grams of cocaine, conspiracy to violate drug laws and possession of 15 tablets of Alprazolam.

Alprazolam is also known as Xanax and according to WebMD is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders.

All three men reside at the 37 Ashley Street #3 apartment.

On Saturday morning Mattapoisett Fire Department Engine 1 responded to Ned’s Point Lighthouse for a reported motor vehicle accident.

On arrival, Engine 1 found a vehicle that was soon to be submerged in the water. The vehicle was left abandoned and luckily no fluids had spilled into the water.

According to New Bedford Public Schools, Hayden McFadden Elementary school is closed today, Tuesday, March 5, 2019, due to gas line repairs.

After school activities are also canceled. Parent conferences will be rescheduled.

Who loves meatloaf? Here’s a look at Pub 6T5’s (736 Ashley Blvd in New Bedford) family meatloaf recipe.