A woman found guilty of breaking into post offices across the state, committing bank fraud and stashing thousands of dollars in cash and other valuables, was sentenced Monday to 18 months in federal prison, after she fled pretrial supervision and custody, delaying legal procedures last year.
Paula Jean Gamboa, 38, of Federal Way, became the third and final member of a burglary ring to be sentenced after Justin Tate, 37, of Tacoma, received more than four years in federal prison in April and Gregory Foster, 60, of Port Orchard, received two years in federal prison in May, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Tate, named as the ringleader, was also ordered to pay $10,785 in restitution.
In one month, between July 4, 2024, and July 31, 2024, the Justice Department say the three broke into post offices after hours and snatched stamps, cash, checks and mail. The post offices spanned the Puget Sound region, reaching Kitsap, Thurston, Pierce, King and Island counties.
Tate opened a bank account under one victim's name and attempted to transfer thousands of dollars for his own use, according to the release. He also attempted to deposit more than $13,000 in fraudulent checks and racked up $7,200 worth of charges on a stolen debit card.
Security camera footage captured Gamboa and Tate at casinos, laundering the money they stole from private mail, according to court records.
Hours after the pair broke into the Preston post office at 3:40 a.m. July 30, 2024, and stole shipping boxes full of mail, they were recorded laundering their newfound funds at Snoqualmie Casino, according to court records. Investigators determined the group used stolen checks and debit cards in an attempt to conceal their crimes.
Gamboa was charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of burglary. While court officials originally found she posed a risk of nonappearance, they did not believe she posed a risk of flight. However, Gamboa fled the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac where she was detained when a van arrived to transport her to the American Behavioral Health center where she was set to receive treatment last October.
Court records said she “walked out the front door of the prison, turned, and ran away” before law enforcement months later obtained a warrant and tracked her phone to an emergency room in Tacoma, leading to her arrest.
Gamboa pleaded guilty to her crimes. The assistant U.S. attorney recommended she be sentenced to 21 months in federal prison with a three-year term of supervised release Sept. 28. A U.S. District Court judge ordered her to serve less time, 18 months, based on her background with substance abuse, mental health struggles and abuse, according to Assistant Attorney Victoria Cantore.
Correction: An earlier version of this story mischaracterized how Gamboa's sentence was handed down.
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