A Federal Way woman was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to taking part in a burglary and fraud scheme that targeted post offices across the Puget Sound region in July 2024. Paula Jean Gamboa, 38, was the last of three defendants sentenced in the case. Justin Tate, identified as the group’s ringleader, received more than four years in prison in April and was ordered to pay $10,785 in restitution. Gregory Foster was sentenced to two years in May. Between July 4 and July 31, the group broke into post offices in Kitsap, Thurston, Pierce, King and Island counties, stealing stamps, cash, checks and mail, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Tate used a victim’s identity to open a bank account and tried to transfer money and deposit more than $13,000 in fraudulent checks. He also made $7,200 in charges with a stolen debit card, the department said. Court records describe Gamboa and Tate using casinos to launder money taken from private mail. After a July 30 break-in at the Preston post office, where they stole shipping boxes full of mail, the two were recorded at Snoqualmie Casino hours later, according to the records. Gamboa’s case was delayed after she fled the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac last October. She was being held there before a planned transfer to the American Behavioral Health Center for treatment when she left the facility. Court records say she ran after walking out the front door. Authorities later tracked her phone to a Tacoma emergency room and arrested her. A judge had recommended a 21-month sentence and three years of supervised release. The prison term was reduced to 18 months in light of Gamboa’s history of substance use, mental health struggles and abuse, Assistant U.S. Attorney Victoria Cantore said.