United States Attorney Benjamin Wagner (California) recently announced that Karina S. Beard, 44, of Turlock, plead guilty to four counts of mail fraud and two counts of federal Workers Compensation fraud.
According to the plea agreement, from October 2006 through January 2009, Beard received federal workers comp benefits for an on-the-job injury she sustained in 2000 while working for the Postal Service. Because of her claimed injuries, restrictions were placed on her physical activities. According to the plea, Beard performed various physical tasks using the purportedly injured part of her body, such as horseback riding. (WCxKit)
According to court documents, Beard made false claims on a United States Department of Labor, Office of Workers Compensation Programs (OWCP) form. The OWCP is required to make an inquiry of every claimant who receives total disability benefits to ascertain whether the claimant has had any employment, earnings, or changes in their medical condition over the previous 15 months. In compliance with regulations, OWCP sends out a questionnaire to each claimant. Claimants reporting changes in employment, earnings, or their medical condition on the questionnaire may experience a reduction or termination of benefits.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: [email protected].
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Beard is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Anthony Ishii early next year. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of mail fraud.
