DALLAS - Andria Victoria Booker, a/k/a Andria Victoria Crosby, 37, most recently from Charlottesville, North Carolina, was sentenced this morning before U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater to serve 12 months in federal prison for making false statements to obtain federal employees’ compensation, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
Booker pleaded guilty in January 2017 to one count of false statement or fraud to obtain federal employees ‘compensation and agreed to pay $41,395 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP). Judge Fitzwater ordered Booker to report to the Bureau of Prisons on Oct. 3, 2017.
“Federal benefits programs are enacted in order to protect government employees should they suffer legitimate work injuries. Unfortunately there are those who choose to take advantage of the system and file fraudulent claims," said Special Agent in Charge Maximo Eamiguel, of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General Southern Area Field Office. “The sentence imposed today should be a testament to the USPS-OIG’s determination in investigating these cases and bringing these criminals to justice. Fraud against the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs and the United States Postal Service will not be tolerated and we will use all resources necessary to complete these investigations."
According to documents filed in her case, in March 2012, Booker claimed she was injured by a dog bite on her finger through a residential mail slot while she was working for the U.S. Postal Service. OWCP accepted her injury claim and began paying her disability benefits.
As part of the OWCP benefits program, a claimant must annually truthfully complete Form EN-1032 that requires a claimant to report employment, self-employment activities, volunteer activities, or any activities that may affect the claimant’s eligibility for payments. Form EN-1032 encompasses all activities for the 15-month period preceding the date of the claimant’s signature.
According to plea documents filed in her case, Booker admits that she did not immediately report to OWCP her employment or employment activity, and she concealed the fact that she was working when she signed and dated Form EN-1032 in September 2014. Booker admits that she worked as a personal trainer at I.T. Fitness in Grand Prairie, Texas, and elsewhere, including forming her own personal training business while she was receiving disability compensation benefits from the OWCP and had stated she did not work. Booker further admitted that she did not report any of her volunteer activities to the OWCP, as she was required to do, when she regularly volunteered for her son’s football program as team representative.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Bray prosecuted.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
