Ohio Postal Worker Gets 5 Months Prison for Workers’ Comp Fraud
Press Release from the United States Attorney, Northern District of Ohio
(January 27, 2011) Former postal employee Norman J. Motko, Jr., 61, of Cleveland, was sentenced to five months imprisonment and ordered to pay $116,980.34 in restitution after previously pleading guilty to worker’s compensation fraud, Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, today announced.
U.S. District Judge Lesley Wells also sentenced Motko to three years of supervised release following his prison term.
On July 8, 2010, Motko pleaded guilty to one count of worker’s compensation fraud. The charge arose out of Motko’s employment as a motor vehicle services operator (truck driver) with the U.S. Postal Service and worker’s compensation payments Motko received between December 2004 and February 2008.
Motko misrepresented his medical condition when he was, in fact, able to work. He represented that he was unable to walk from the parking lot to the post office, according to court documents. In fact, he operated snow removal and lawn care businesses at the same time he was collecting worker’s compensation, according to court documents.
“These types of fraud cases need to be prosecuted vigorously, and we will continue to do so,” Dettelbach said.
“The U.S. Postal Service pays over $1 billion annually in workers’ compensation costs,” said Eastern Area Special Agent in Charge Elizabeth A. Farcht, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. “The majority of postal employees who collect federal workers’ compensation benefits have legitimate claims due to on-the-job injuries and are truly unable to perform any work. A small percentage, however, abuse the system and cost the Postal Service millions of dollars in fraudulent claims. This conviction and sentencing should put those who choose to defraud the system on notice that Special Agents with the USPS Office of Inspector General will aggressively investigate these cases, and present them to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for criminal prosecution when appropriate. Last year, our workers’ compensation fraud investigations resulted in more than 90 arrests, nearly 40 convictions, and saved the Postal Service $185 million in future payments.”
James Vanderberg, Special Agent in Charge for the Chicago Region of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, stated: “This sentence highlights the OIG’s determination to investigate fraud against the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) which provides workers’ compensation coverage to over three million Federal and Postal workers for work-related injuries or illnesses. The OIG is firmly committed to aggressively pursuing and investigating those who violate Department of Labor Programs.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Tripi. The investigation preceding the indictment was jointly conducted by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
Pennsylvania Postal Worker Indicted On Charges Of Obstructing and Delaying Mail
Filed under: legal cases, postal, postal news, press releases
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a Grand Jury in Scranton has indicted Denise Miller, age 49, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, on two counts of intentionally obstructing and delaying mail coming into her possession as a postal employee in May 2010.
According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, the charges provide for a maximum sentence of five and a half years and up to $250,000 in fines. Miller, a mail carrier at the Clarks Summit Post Office, was suspended from her duties pending the investigation which was conducted by the U.S. Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General.
Prosecution of the case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski.
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An Indictment or Information is not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made by the Grand Jury and/or United States Attorney against a defendant. A charged Defendant is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the United States has proven the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt or until the defendant has pled guilty to the charges
source: U.S. Attorney, Middle District of Pennsylvania
Missouri Postmaster Gets Probation For Misappropriating Postal Funds
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that the former postmaster for the Republic, Mo., Post Office was sentenced in federal court today for misappropriating postal funds.
Donna Rippee, 64, of Republic, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr to three years probation. The court also ordered Rippee to pay $14,374.70 in restitution.
On February 1, 2010, Rippee pleaded guilty to misappropriating postal funds.
Rippee admitted that, between Jan. 1, 2002, and Feb. 7, 2008, she converted postal funds to her own use. Rippee admitted that she withdrew $2,000 from the postal account held at the U.S. Post Office and purchased two $1,000 money orders made payable to herself in an effort to cover up an approximately $40,000 shortfall in another postal account under her control.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General.
source: Office Of US Attorney, Western District Of Missouri
Vermont Postmaster Gets Probation In Mail Case
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A former Vermont postmaster has been fined $250 and put on probation for one year for obstructing the mail.
Frank J. Strzelec, former officer in charge of the Center Rutland Post Office, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of obstructing the passage of mail. Federal prosecutors say that in late 2009, Strzelec submitted three change-of-address forms and some magazine subscription orders on behalf of a woman without her knowledge or consent.
He was sentenced Friday in federal court in Burlington. In addition to the fines and probation, Strzelec was ordered to have no contact with the woman.
Vermont postmaster gets probation in mail case
Related: Postmaster Charged With Obstructing The Passage Of Mail (June 18, 2010)
Ohio Postal Employee Charged With Theft Of Mail
Filed under: legal cases, postal, postal news, press releases
Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, today announced that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Brenda Moore, age 48, of East Cleveland, Ohio, with theft of mail by a postal employee and unauthorized opening of mail by a postal employee.
The indictment charges that on June 24, 2010, Brenda Moore, a clerk assigned to the Station B/C, Cleveland, Ohio, stole $500.00 which had come into her possession to be conveyed by mail and that on January 26, 2010, stole $2,000.00 which had come into her possession to be conveyed by mail. The indictment also charges that on January 26, 2010, and June 24, 2010, Brenda Moore, without authorization, opened mail not directed to her.
The indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Sassé after investigation by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
September 16, 2010
New York Postal Worker Gets Two Months For OWCP Fraud
Filed under: Dept. of Labor, legal cases, owcp, postal, postal news, press releases, usdoj
Press Release from the United States Attorney Northern District of New York
September 10, 2010
Richard S. Hartunian, United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, announced today that JAMES IZYK, 49, of Oswego, New York was sentenced in federal court
today in Syracuse, N.Y. by U.S. District Court Judge Norman A. Mordue, to two months incarceration in connection with two felony convictions for defrauding the U.S. Postal Service, U.S. Department of Labor, and the Social Security Administration. Following his release from prison, IZYK was ordered to be placed on three years supervised release which will include 4 months of home confinement; pay restitution of $13,752 to the Social Security Administration and $20,132 to the United States Postal Service; and a pay a $200 special assessment.
On May 7, 2010, IZYK, a former Sales and Service Associate with the U.S. Post Office in Oswego, New York, pled guilty to violating 18 U.S.C. § 1920, admitting that he falsely represented that a work-related injury prevented him from performing any type of duties with the U.S. Postal Service. IZYK was capable of working, and knew he was under an obligation to report his true medical condition to the U.S. Postal Service. Based upon his false representations, IZYK received $33,884 in federal workers compensation and Social Security disability workers’ compensation benefits.
IZYK also pled guilty to a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001, admitting that he falsely completed a written Social Security Administration Functional Capacity Evaluation and Continuing Disability Review Report, in connection with his receipt of Social Security Disability Benefits for his work-related disability. IZYK reported that since June 30, 2006, there had been no change in his physical condition and that his physical condition prevented him from, among other things: working, lifting objects over three pounds, doing yard work, and tying his shoes. Based upon those representations, IZYK remained eligible for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. During the investigation federal agents observed and video-recorded IZYK landscaping his lawn, pushing a wheelbarrow weighing in excess of 225 pounds, building a flagstone retaining wall, lifting a lawn mower, and carrying objects weighing over 40 pounds.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General.
Further information regarding this case can be obtained by contacting Assistant United States Attorney Tamara Thomson at (315) 448-0672.
Former Postal Employee Sentenced to 25 Months For Stealing Over $130,000 in Treasury Checks from Mail
Press Release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia
WASHINGTON – Shareen Wilson, 42, a former mail carrier with the United States Postal Service (“USPS”), was sentenced today to 25 months of incarceration and ordered to pay $134,416.27 in restitution for her role in a scheme to steal United States and District of Columbia treasury checks from the mail and cash them at local check cashing establishments using fake identification documents, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
The Honorable John D. Bates, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, presided over the sentencing. Wilson pleaded guilty on June 2, 2010, before Judge Bates to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and one count of theft of mail by U.S. Postal Employee.
Altogether, Wilson and the other members of the stolen check scheme were responsible for the theft and fraudulent negotiation of more than $130,000 in stolen United States and District of Columbia treasury checks, using false and fraudulent identification documents. More than 50 individuals and businesses were victimized by the scheme either because their mail was stolen or because they sustained an economic loss by cashing the checks.
According to the government’s evidence, from May 2008 through February 2010, Wilson stole more than 50 United States and District of Columbia treasury checks from the USPS River Terrace Carrier Annex in Northeast Washington, where she was assigned. These checks had been mailed by the United States and District of Columbia governments to intended recipients in Washington, D.C. Many of these checks had been entrusted to Wilson’s custody for delivery on her own postal
route. Others had been stolen by Wilson from boxes assigned to other mail carriers.
After removing the checks from the USPS River Terrace Carrier Annex, Wilson provided them to a co-conspirator. The co-conspirator recruited various individuals (referred to as “cashers”) to cash the stolen treasury checks using fake and fraudulent identification documents, including fake District
of Columbia driver’s licenses bearing the photographs of the cashers but the names and addresses of the intended recipients of the treasury checks. The co-conspirator obtained the fake and fraudulent identification documents from an individual known as the “ID Dude.”
The co-conspirator had at least eight cashers working for him directly or indirectly. The cashers generally cashed the stolen checks at local liquor stores. In exchange for providing stolen United States and District of Columbia treasury checks, the co-conspirator paid Wilson a portion of the proceeds of the checks, ranging from $200 to $850 per check.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the outstanding investigative work of agents of the USPS Office of Inspector General, Special Agent Derek Savoy of the D.C. Office of Inspector General, Postal Inspector Christopher Saunders of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, agents of the U.S. Secret Service, and Detective Michael Pavero of the Metropolitan Police Department. U.S. Attorney Machen also praised the efforts of members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Legal Assistant Jamasee Lucas, Paralegal Specialists Sarah Reis and Mary Treanor, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Johnson and Ellen Chubin Epstein, who prosecuted the case.
California Postal Supervisor Pleads Guilty To Theft
Press Release from The U.S. Department of Justice’s U.S. Attorney’s office for Eastern District of California:
June 25, 2010
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that June Marie Casteel, 46, of Yuba City, pleaded guilty today before United States District Court Judge Edward G. Garcia to felony theft of U.S. Postal Money Orders and theft of currency of the U.S. Postal Service .
According to court documents, from September 5, 2009 through September 10, 2009, Casteel, while employed as a supervisor of the Marysville Post Office, stole five U.S. Postal Money Orders. She used her position as a supervisor to gain access to another employee’s clerk drawer and point-of-sale password to issue each of the U.S. Postal Money Orders. Casteel then submitted false financial records in order to hide her theft. She asked two individuals to cash the money orders and to give her the proceeds, and then instructed them to provide false information to federal investigators. Casteel stole $4633 in U.S. Postal funds for her own use.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service’s Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rodriguez is prosecuting the case.
Casteel is scheduled to be sentenced on September 10, 2010. She faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory sentencing factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Former Postal Employee Pleads Guilty To Theft, Agrees To Repay $134,416
WASHINGTON – Shareen Wilson, 42, a former mail carrier with the United States Postal Service (“USPS”), pleaded guilty this afternoon to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud,in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341 and 1349, and one count of Theft of Mail by U.S. PostalEmployee, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1709, for her role in a scheme to steal United States and District of Columbia treasury checks from the mail and cash them at local check cashing
establishments using fake identification documents, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced. The plea hearing was presided over by the Honorable John D. Bates, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Sentencing is scheduled for August 12, 2010, where Wilson faces between 33 and 41 months of incarceration under the voluntary federal sentencing guidelines. As part of her plea, Wilson also agreed to pay $134,416.27 in restitution.
According to the government’s evidence, from May 2008 through February 2010, Wilson stole over 50 United States and District of Columbia treasury checks from the USPS River Terrace Carrier Annex, where she was assigned. These checks had been mailed by the United States and District of Columbia governments to intended recipients in Washington, D.C. Many of these checks had been entrusted to Wilson’s custody for delivery on her own postal route. Others had been stolen by Wilson from boxes assigned to other mail carriers.
After removing the checks from the USPS River Terrace Carrier Annex, Wilson provided them to co-conspirator S.D. S.D. recruited various individuals (referred to as “cashers”) to cash the stolen treasury checks using fake and fraudulent identification documents, including fake District of Columbia driver’s licenses bearing the photographs of the cashers but the names and addresses of the intended recipients of the treasury checks. S.D. obtained the fake and fraudulent identification documents from an individual known as the “ID Dude.” S.D. had at least eight cashers working for him directly or indirectly. The cashers generally cashed the stolen checks at local liquor stores. In exchange for providing stolen United States and District of Columbia treasury checks to S.D., S.D. paid Wilson a portion of the proceeds of the checks, ranging from $200 to $850 per check.
Altogether, Wilson and the other members of the stolen check scheme were responsible for the theft and fraudulent negotiation of over $130,000 in stolen United States and District of Columbia treasury checks. More than 50 individuals and businesses were victimized by the scheme,either because their mail was stolen or because they sustained an economic loss by cashing the checks.
In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the outstanding investigative work of agents of the USPS Office of Inspector General, Special Agent Derek Savoy of the District of Columbia Office of Inspector General, agents of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, agents of the U.S. Secret Service, and Detective Michael Pavero of the Metropolitan Police Department. U.S. Attorney Machen also praised the efforts of members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Legal Assistant Jamasee Lucas, Paralegal Specialists Sarah Reis and Mary Treanor,and Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Johnson and Ellen Chubin Epstein, who are prosecuting the case.
Mail Handler and Letter Carrier Charged With Mail Theft
Filed under: legal cases, letter carriers, mail handlers, postal, press releases
Press Releases from the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas :
(HOUSTON) – A mail handler for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has been indicted for mail theft, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today.
Johnny McCoy, 49, of Spring, Texas, has been charged in a one-count indictment with theft of mail by a postal employee returned by a Houston grand jury on April 8, 2010. McCoy surrendered himself to USPS-Office of Inspector General authorities on Monday, April 12, 2010, and has been ordered released on bond pending trial of the case.
The charges are the result of an investigation into the theft of greeting card letters destined for USPS customers. McCoy is accused of stealing two $20 bills and a $10 bill from first class mail addressed to a USPS customer residing in Kemah, Texas, in July 2009.
McCoy worked as a mail handler at the North Houston Processing and Distribution Center at the time of this incident. Three days later, McCoy resigned from his position with the USPS.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Tammie Y. Moore is prosecuting the case
(HOUSTON) – A U.S. Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier has been indicted for mail theft, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today.
Johnnie Harden, 46, of Houston, was charged by a Houston grand jury on April 8, 2010, with two counts of theft of mail by a postal employee. Harden surrendered himself to the U.S. Marshals Service on Monday, April 12, 2010, and has been ordered released on bond pending trial in this case.
The charges against Harden are the result of an investigation initiated by the USPS-Office of Inspector General upon receipt of customer complaints reporting non-receipt of a greeting card intended for a recipient address in Houston.
Harden is accused of having stolen a $50 Target gift card from the mail entrusted to him for delivery to a USPS customer on Sept. 23, 2009, and two $50 bills enclosed in a second article of mail on Oct. 15, 2009.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Tammie Y. Moore is prosecuting the case.