HOUSTON - Mytasha Henry, a former U.S. Postal Service letter carrier from the Houston area has entered a plea of guilty to charges of stealing government funds with regards to the Office of Workers’ Compensation Program (OWCP), United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.

Henry, 31, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Houston May 8, 2012, on five counts of mail fraud, one count of false statements regarding federal workers’ compensation benefits and one count of theft of government money. Today, she pleaded guilty to all counts. 

The OWCP allows federal employees who sustain on-the-job injuries to receive medical payments and compensation benefits, including reimbursement for medically-related travel. From July 2007 to July 2008, Henry worked as a letter carrier at the Royall Station in Houston. Citing an injury that occurred while delivering mail, she filed a Federal Employee’s Claim for Continuation of Pay/Compensation in 2007.

From Sept. 21, 2007, through May 14, 2012, Henry filed medical travel refund requests with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and OWCP claiming mileage reimbursement and parking and toll fee reimbursements for physician and rehabilitation appointments which she did not attend nor incur associated costs. Henry defrauded the DOL and OWCP of more than $173,000, which she received as a result of her fraudulent claims.

She faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the mail fraud charges and a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years in prison and $250,000 fine for the theft of government money charges at sentencing set for Feb. 22, 2013. An order of restitution is also expected to be entered by the court. Henry was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

The case is being investigated by DOL-Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Service-Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Elmilady is prosecuting this case.