Former Postal Employee Sentenced For Worker’s Compensation Fraud

 BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK – Christine O’Neill, age 61, of Johnson City, New York, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy to serve three (3) years on probation for defrauding the U.S. Postal Service and U.S. Department of Labor of $46,287 by making false statements and representations to obtain federal workers compensation benefits, announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service-Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Office.

O’Neill falsely represented that she was not employed, self-employed, or involved in any business enterprise during periods of time in 2015 and 2016 when she was collecting federal workers compensation benefits. She was receiving benefits based upon a claimed injury to her back that she said made her unable to perform any work functions for the Postal Service.  In fact, O’Neill ran her own company, Chris’ Cookies and Cakes, preparing and delivering cakes and cookies to customers during the times she collected benefits. Agents videotaped O’Neill selling baked goods at a local craft fair during the course of their investigation and bought baked goods from O’Neill who provided the undercover agent with a business card.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey J. L. Brown.