SPRINGFIELD TWP.: A former U.S. Postal Service worker living in Springfield Township has been found guilty of workers compensation fraud.

Amber R. Angeline, 41, was found guilty Wednesday of the charge by Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Lynn Callahan.

Authorities say Angeline received federal workers compensation benefits for a job-related injury between August 2009 through August 2010.

Angeline claimed travel expenses for 91 alleged trips between a doctor’s office in Oakland, Calif., and Elk Grove, Calif. Investigators found she was actually living in the Akron area at the time. She received travel reimbursement payments of $10,955.70.

Angeline pleaded no contest and was found guilty by Callahan.

She was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay $10,955.70.

U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General Special Agent-in-Charge Robert Lapina, of the Eastern Area Field Office, said the agency spends about $1.4 billion per year in workers’ compensation costs.

“The majority of postal employee who collect these benefits have legitimate claims due to on the job injuries and are truly unable to perform any work,” Lapina said. “A small percentage, however, abuse the system and cost the Postal Service millions of dollars in fraudulent claims.”

via Akron Beacon Journal Online