Former U.S. Postal Service Service Pleads Responsible to Federal Cost in Maryland for Making False Statements to Get hold of As much as $62,690 in Incapacity Compensation | USAO-MD

Greenbelt, Maryland – Ronald S. Repass, 57, of Poolesville, Maryland, today pleaded guilty to misrepresentation or fraud to seek compensation for federal employees. Repass admitted he falsely claimed he couldn’t work, despite having worked in various jobs that he was paid for between June 2016 and February 2019.

The confession of guilt was announced by United States attorney for Maryland District, Robert K. Hur. Special Agent in Charge Imari R. Niles of the US Postal Service, Office of Inspector General (OIG); and special agent in charge Derek Pickle of the Washington Regional Office of the US Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General (OIG).

As stated in the indictment, the Department of Labor’s Labor Compensation Programs (“OWCP”) administered extensive disability compensation programs that provided lost wage benefits, medical treatment, vocational rehabilitation and other benefits to federal government employees who were disabled while performing their duties.

According to the indictment, from October 1989 Repass was employed by the U.S. Postal Service at Poolesville Post in Montgomery County, Maryland. Repass was a rural freight forwarder on December 5, 2014 when he was filing a claim for workers’ compensation after falling and injuring his right shoulder. OWCP granted his right to a “right rotator cuff tear” on February 11, 2015 based on a determination that Repass was unable to perform any of the routine tasks of his job. As of February 22, 2015, Repass received benefits of approximately $ 3,227 per month.

The Ministry of Labor asked disabled workers to sign and fill out a form annually stating that they had not worked in the last 15 months. The disabled employees also had to immediately report an improvement in their health or part-time or full-time employment. In 2016, 2017 and 2018, Repass signed and submitted the form stating that he neither worked for an employer, nor was self-employed, or worked in a company, even though Repass worked part-time as a snow plow driver during those years , as a service advisor in a car repair shop, as a sales representative for a home improvement company, as a plumber, and he installed blinds and mowed lawns, all for compensation.

Based on his misrepresentation, the government claims Repass received up to $ 62,690.44 in employee compensation payments to which he was not entitled.

Repass faces a maximum penalty of five years for misrepresentation or fraud in order to receive federal employee compensation. Actual penalties for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge will decide each sentence based on U.S. sentencing guidelines and other legal factors. US District Judge Paula Xinis has set the sentencing for March 29, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.

United States attorney Robert K. Hur commended the US Postal Service OIG and the US Department of Labor OIG for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked US assistant attorney Hollis R. Weisman who is pursuing the case.

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