News Release from the United States Attorney Northern District of Ohio
William J. Edwards, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, today announced that a federal grand jury returned three separate felony indictments charging three Northeast Ohio residents with defrauding the United States Department of Labor and the United States Postal Service. The indictments returned today charge employees of the United States Postal Service with devising and carrying out three separate schemes to defraud the United States Department of Labor and the United States Postal Service by fraudulently obtaining worker’s compensation benefits and avoiding returning to work in limited duty positions.
Under federal law, employees of the United States Postal Service who are disabled due to occupational injury receive compensation benefits under the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA). The office of Worker’s Compensation Programs (OWCP) of the United States Department of Labor administers the benefits program under FECA. Postal Service employees who are disabled due to occupational injury are entitled to receive compensation benefits under the Act. OWCP requires periodic reports from disabled employees in order to determine whether those employees continue to be eligible to receive benefits under FECA.
Pursuant to FECA, employees are required to return to work in a limited duty position or part-time position as they recover from their work-related injuries. The United States Postal Service has a policy of returning disabled employees to a limited duty position or part-time employment at the earliest opportunity during their recovery from their work-related injury. Limited duty can only be authorized within medical restrictions set by treating physicians.
Pursuant to OWCP procedures and policy, disabled employees receiving FECA benefits are required to disclose salaried, commissioned, and self-employment activities as well as volunteer activities when claiming entitlement to worker’s compensation benefits.
An eleven-count indictment was returned against Norman J. Motko Jr., age 60, of Cleveland, Ohio, charging him with five counts of Mail Fraud and six counts of Making a Fraudulent Statement to Obtain Federal Employee Compensation. The indictment alleges that between December 14, 2004, and February 11, 2008, Motko, a motor vehicle services driver, submitted false claims forms to the U.S. Department of Labor in which he failed to disclose that he had worked outside his federal job during the claimed period resulting in the U.S. Department of Labor issuing worker’s compensation checks in the total aggregate amount of $116,980.34.
A fifteen-count indictment was returned against Tonia M. Anderson, age 53, of Akron, Ohio, charging her with four counts of Mail Fraud, eight counts of Making Fraudulent Statements to Obtain Federal Employee Compensation, and three counts of Making False Statements. The indictment alleges that between August 6, 2005, and February 21, 2006, Anderson, a clerk, submitted false claims forms to the U.S. Department of Labor in which she failed to reveal her ability to work and her true medical condition resulting in the U.S. Department of Labor issuing worker’s compensation checks in the total aggregate amount of $14,998.03.
A thirteen-count indictment was returned against Marlise Y. Taylor, age 43, of Broadview Heights, Ohio, charging her with four counts of Mail Fraud, six counts of Making Fraudulent Statements to Obtain Federal Employee Compensation, and three counts of False Statements. The indictment alleges that between April 28, 2006, and May 11, 2007, Taylor, a Supervisor of Distribution Operations, submitted false claims forms to the U.S. Department of Labor in which she failed to reveal her ability to work and her true medical condition resulting in the U.S. Department of Labor issuing worker’s compensation checks in the total aggregate amount of $39,490.45.
Elizabeth A. Farcht is the Special Agent in Charge of the Eastern Area Field Office, United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General. Farcht said: “The vast majority of the Postal Service’s nearly 650,000 employees are dedicated and hard-working individuals who work diligently to move the mail to its proper destination. Unfortunately, there are a small number of individuals who betray the public’s trust and take advantage of the federal worker’s compensation program. If you know someone who is stealing, faking an injury, or defrauding the Postal Service, contact an OIG Special Agent at www.uspsoig.gov or toll free at 1-888-USPS-OIG.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Phillip J. Tripi following a joint investigation by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. Indictments in each of the three returned cases are attached to this press release.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Dear Fellow:
Let me be straight with all you out there. It’s not the these employee, who are charged with mail fraud and their ability to work and about their true medical condition. USPSOIG should know that what about those people who were working and were on limited duties those people were sent home unde the NRP Pilot program. Those people who’s injuiry are geniune are harrassed by Postal Managment. Under and accordingly Pursuant to FECA, employees are required to return to work in a limited duty position or part-time position as they recover from their work-related injuries. The United States Postal Service has a policy of returning disabled employees to a limited duty position or part-time employment at the earliest opportunity during their recovery from their work-related injury. Limited duty can only be authorized within medical restrictions set by treating physicians.
Based on above statement, question is for all those out there including OIG agents and to Postal Service, stop lying and be honest as you are sworn officers. 1)If job are been offered to limited and part time employee, then and why all those limited employee are sent home. Folks there is class action against the United Postal Service for discrimination based on disability. Read the truth about United State Postal Service. click the link http://www.postalreporternews.net/2010/07/07/fyi-national-reassessment-process-eeo-class-action-lawsuit-website/
Dear Fellow Postal Workers:
I am writing to inform you that today, 8/2/2010, all 13 counts of the federal criminal indictment that was issued against me as stated in the above report were DISMISSED. Yes, DISMISSED. However, I am sure that this reversal of charges will be reported by neither the postal service nor the OIG.
Although this blog is not a full representation of the support I received from colleagues and friends while I endured these false allegations, I am most grateful to those of you who knew my character and believed in my innocence. For you, I am grateful and I humbly thank you all! To those of you who took this unfortunate event as an opportunity to malign my character and curse and bless me at the same time, thank you for helping me to get to the point where I can honestly say, “It’s okay.” For God’s word says that cursing and blessings cannot proceed from the same mouth, James 3:10. So, I rest alone in that Word.
I know everyone would like to know the details of my case but they will be provided in a more proper forum. Once again, I publicly thank everyone for their support! And I offer a special blessing to every postal worker who is working with a disability and enduring the non-tolerance of that disability from uninjured co-workers. Heads up good people, it could be you!
Marlise Y. Taylor
Marlise Taylor worked at the Cleveland Distribution Center. She failed many times as a supervisor to take responsible actions in situations to treat her employees fairly, and with dignity and respect; instead, she would cause or allow violations of ethical standards.
Ms. Taylor’s unethical behavior, lack of fairness and integrity is now presently causing her much discomfort in her personal life and causing an atmosphere of abundant fear as she works to clear her name of a thirteen-count indictment involving $39,490.45/OWCP.
An indictment is a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Ms. Taylor, you are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. My prayers are with you during this difficult time, but my hopes are that you come out of this a better person. God bless.
I know norman motko.and for your information……he is a white man.
I too sympathize with the employees involved. I had those OIG guyz on me, same kinda shyt, but I was never criminally charged, even tho an investigation was done with the same offices involved,they closed their investigation and they left it up to local management to deal with me, so yeah I got fired, but I got my job back, now I am continously harrassed by HMR management because they were wrong and can’t get over the fact that I didn’t do anything criminal. WTF. That’s who should really be investigated, the HMR dycks who are professionals at half truths, lies, and innuendo. They are the ones who should be investigated, All they do is sit at a desk all day in air conditioning, never perform the physical labor that’s needed to move the mail, never get hurt, and get paid to ruin and wreck people’s lives.
It’s about time that people are being investigated and prosecuted for defrauding workers’ compensation. I don’t really care if they are white, black, green or purple. If they are guilty, they need to be punished. Maybe others will think twice about defrauding the government!
Oh trying to be nice saying African American? Why don’t you say what you really mean and stop pretending your not racist.That is why the world is like it is now. You are a fat ass bald white mans no doubt…right? And no for your info I am not black. I am white.People like you make me sick as hell.Stupid ass.
All African-Americans, no doubt….
I kind of feel sorry for these four. This is going on all over the country. Why were these four picked out?