This Week’s Crime…

THE ACCUSED:

Colette Lee is a Postal Service employee in Baltimore, Maryland. From 2003 to 2014, she worked for USPS as a letter carrier and later a mail handler.

THE CRIME:

Lee is charged with making false statements to obtain federal employee compensation benefits.

She submitted a total of four disability claims for a work-related injury under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA). The claims were filed from May 2007 to October 2009. However, Lee failed to submit relevant parts of her medical history at the start of her Postal Service employment, such as an active injury claim. When doctors evaluated her possible return to work, she failed to mention that she had prior injuries from at least four car accidents, which existed before her claims for FECA benefits. Lee said she couldn’t return to work because of certain limitations such as: using both hands to turn a steering wheel; grasping items with her right hand; asking people for assistance when shopping; and that her injury prevented her from playing with her son. An investigation conducted from December 2010 to February 2014 showed her doing all of these activities, and more, on different occasions. In addition, Lee filed for and received food stamps from 2010 to 2012. She didn’t disclose that she received FECA benefits.

THE DAMAGE:

The Postal Service and Agriculture Department forked over a total of $244,912.65 because of Lee’s false statements.

THE PUNISHMENT:

Lee’s sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 2, 2015. She faces a maximum of five years in prison.

Source: Justice Department