U.S. Postal Worker Charged with Making False Workers’ Compensation Claims
According to court documents, Lopez-Bateman was an employee of the United States Postal Service when she suffered an on-the-job injury in 2015. She was therefore entitled to workers compensation benefits, including costs of travel to and from medical appointments. However, beginning in 2015, she submitted fraudulent requests for reimbursement for travel that never occurred. She continued to submit these fraudulent requests for reimbursement through June 2017. In total, Lopez-Bateman defrauded the U.S. government of $16,851.10.
Lopez-Bateman was charged January 23, 2018 in a bill of information with one count of making false statements to obtain federal workers’ compensation benefits, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1920. If convicted, she faces a maximum of 5 years in prison, a maximum $250,000.00 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilty of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U. S. Attorney Evans praised the conviction as the product of the investigative efforts of the U.S. Postal Services Office of Inspector General. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Payne.