FORMER POSTAL EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY TO EMPLOYEE BENEFITS FRAUD

(HOUSTON) – Former mail processing clerk, Paula V. Jackson, 41, of Houston, has pleaded guilty to mail fraud charges, acting United States Attorney Tim Johnson announced today.

Jackson was indicted in October 2008 and charged with three counts of mail fraud. Jackson pleaded guilty to all counts this morning before U.S. District Judge Melinda Harmon admitting that since 2001 she had made false and fraudulent filings for unemployment benefits to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) regarding the number of hours she worked or the amount of salary she received from the U.S. Postal Service and receiving benefits to which she was not entitled. As a result of these misrepresentations, Jackson received $15,680 in overpayments.

The investigation leading to the charges against Jackson was triggered by information provided by the Texas Workforce Commission to the U.S. Postal Service - Office of Inspector General. That investigation looked into Postal payroll records detailing work hours and salary payment for Jackson for each two-week pay period which were compared to the unemployment benefits claimed by Jackson. Jackson began her employment with the U.S. Postal Service as a mail processing clerk on Sept. 12, 1998. She was assigned to work at the Barbara Jordan Post Office, 401 Franklin, Houston, Texas.  

Jackson has been permitted to remain free on a $20K unsecured bond pending her sentencing, which is set for March 13, 2009. She Faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment for each count of conviction.

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