Former U.S. Postal Service Service Sentenced on Federal Cost in Maryland for Making False Statements to Get hold of Incapacity Compensation | USAO-MD

Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis today sentenced Ronald S. Repass, 57, of Poolesville, Maryland, to five years probation for misrepresentation or fraud in order to obtain disability benefits for federal employees and ordered Repass for a refund $ 22,000. Repass admitted he falsely claimed he couldn’t work, despite having worked in various jobs for which he was paid between June 2016 and February 2019.

The verdict was pronounced by acting United States attorney for Maryland District, Jonathan F. Lenzner. Special Agent in Charge Imari R. Niles of the US Postal Service, Inspector General’s Office (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, Repass was employed by the U.S. Postal Service at Poolesville Post in Montgomery County, Maryland, from October 1989. Repass was a rural freight forwarder on December 5, 2014 when he filed for employee 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. Repass received approximately $ 3,227 per month in benefits as of February 22, 2015.

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 did not work for an employer, self-employed or in a company, even though Repass worked part-time as a snowplough driver during those years, as a service advisor in a car workshop, as a sales representative for a home improvement company, as a plumber, and he installed blinds and mowed lawns, all for compensation.

Acting United States attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the US Postal Service OIG and the US Department of Labor OIG for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked US assistant attorney Hollis R. Weisman, who is pursuing the case.

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