Double dipping is usually frowned upon. (And I’m not talking about dragging your potato chip through the French onion dip a second time after taking a bite out of it.) An article published by The Inquisitr News tells the story of a former postal worker who double dipped from two government programs and received more than $365,000 for his illegal efforts.
The story states that the former postman lied about a lower back injury to the Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits program and also to the Department of Labor Office of Workers’ Compensation Program. (He even went as far as to walk with a cane to prove that he was injured.) As a result, the man received $365,831.50 in benefits that he did not deserve.
Not only was he double dipping from two government programs, but he also was earning an income by preparing immigration paperwork and tax returns for hundreds of customers from a backyard office. (Apparently, he used his extra income to go fishing, dancing and sledding. He also took a few vacations to Hawaii, Canada and the Philippines.)
After a multi-year investigation into payments received over five years, the former postman was arrested for bilking the government programs by collecting benefits at the maximum value allowed. As a result, he pleaded guilty to Federal Employee’s Compensation Act fraud, theft of government funds, social security fraud and wire fraud.
The 57-year-old was sentenced to 30 months in jail to be followed by three years of supervised probation. (The judge wanted to make sure this fraudster would serve as an example to others thinking about doing the same thing.) According to the court report, the criminal also was ordered to pay full restitution and forfeit more than $14,000 found in his bank account when arrested.
Social Security Disability Insurance payments and workers’ compensation benefits are intended to help deserving disabled and unemployed people, not serve as supplemental income for able-bodied workers. There will be no more extracurricular activities or vacations on the government’s dime. The only respite he’ll be getting is a five-year stay complements of the penal system.
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