Indictment Alleges Defendant Stole More than $72,000 in Workers’ Compensation Benefits
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Linda Sue Parnell, age 62, of Syracuse, New York, was arraigned yesterday on an indictment charging her with four counts of wire fraud and one count of theft of government money, announced Acting United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith.
The indictment alleges that Parnell, who was formerly employed as a nurse by the Veterans Administration, submitted false claims for reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs for more than five years. According to the indictment, Parnell fraudulently submitted claims that she traveled to the YMCA of Greater Syracuse for physical rehabilitation, when, in fact, she did not, which caused her to receive more than $72,000 to which she was not entitled. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If convicted, Parnell faces up to 20 years in prison on each count of wire fraud, and up to 10 years in prison on the count of theft of government money. She also could be subject to a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years on each of the five criminal charges. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Parnell was arraigned yesterday in Syracuse, New York, before United States Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks, and released pending a trial before United States District Court Judge David N. Hurd.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Levine.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
