Illinois USPS Employee Charged with Alleged Workers’ Compensation Fraud

A United States Postal Service (USPS) employee has been indicted on federal fraud charges for allegedly collecting augmented workers’ compensation benefits that she was not entitled to, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois last month.

Graciela Venegas, 66, began receiving workers’ compensation benefits in 2012 due to an injury sustained while performing her duties at the Postal Service. At that time, she claimed her spouse as a dependent, which allowed her to receive augmented benefits. However, after the couple divorced in 2013, her ex-spouse passed away in 2014.

The indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago alleges that Venegas continued to fraudulently claim her spouse as a dependent even after their divorce and subsequent death. From 2013 to 2024, while still employed by the Postal Service, Venegas allegedly received monthly augmented workers’ compensation payments that amounted to an additional 8 and 1/3 percent of her pre-injury monthly salary. In total, she is accused of fraudulently pocketing $51,776 in benefits that she knew she was not entitled to.

Venegas, who resides in Chicago, faces five counts of wire fraud and one count of knowingly making a false statement to the U.S. Department of Labor. Each wire fraud count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, while the false statement charge could result in an additional five years. Her arraignment is scheduled for January 6 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura K. McNally.

“The U.S. Postal Service paid $1.5 billion in workers’ compensation costs in fiscal year 2024, and the majority of postal employees who collect compensation benefits have legitimate claims due to on-the-job injuries,” stated SAC Bishop. “However, a certain percentage abuse the system, costing the Postal Service millions of dollars in fraudulent claims and enforcement costs.”

Topics
Fraud
Workers’ Compensation
Illinois

A United States Postal Service (USPS) employee has been indicted on federal fraud charges for allegedly collecting augmented workers’ compensation benefits that she was not entitled to, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois last month.

Graciela Venegas, 66, began receiving workers’ compensation benefits in 2012 due to an injury sustained while performing her duties at the Postal Service. At that time, she claimed her spouse as a dependent, which allowed her to receive augmented benefits. However, after the couple divorced in 2013, her ex-spouse passed away in 2014.

The indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago alleges that Venegas continued to fraudulently claim her spouse as a dependent even after their divorce and subsequent death. From 2013 to 2024, while still employed by the Postal Service, Venegas allegedly received monthly augmented workers’ compensation payments that amounted to an additional 8 and 1/3 percent of her pre-injury monthly salary. In total, she is accused of fraudulently pocketing $51,776 in benefits that she knew she was not entitled to.

Venegas, who resides in Chicago, faces five counts of wire fraud and one count of knowingly making a false statement to the U.S. Department of Labor. Each wire fraud count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, while the false statement charge could result in an additional five years. Her arraignment is scheduled for January 6 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura K. McNally.

“The U.S. Postal Service paid $1.5 billion in workers’ compensation costs in fiscal year 2024, and the majority of postal employees who collect compensation benefits have legitimate claims due to on-the-job injuries,” stated SAC Bishop. “However, a certain percentage abuse the system, costing the Postal Service millions of dollars in fraudulent claims and enforcement costs.”

Topics
Fraud
Workers’ Compensation
Illinois