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Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland - A federal grand jury has indicted Larosa Bolton, age 53, of Laurel, Maryland, today on charges of theft of government property and making false claims in connecting with fraudulent claims for medical travel expenses.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Paul Bowman of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General; and Special Agent in Charge Bill Jones, of the Washington Regional Office, U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations.
According to the indictment, Bolton was employed by the U.S. Postal Service as a city carrier at the Laurel post office. Between 1993 and 1998, she sustained three separate injuries, all of which qualified her to receive workers compensation benefits. As part of the program, beneficiaries, such as Bolton, are entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses to and from medical appointments related to the relevant injury, even if the employee returns to work. Bolton began receiving workers compensation benefits in 2001.
The two-count indictment alleges that between January 2008 and July 2014, Bolton received compensation for travel expenses for medical care relating to one of Bolton’s injury claims. Specifically, Bolton submitted vouchers for travel expenses for 1,170 trips for medical care. The indictment alleges that 89 of those trips were for medical care, but no medical care occurred for the remaining 1,081 trips that Bolton claimed. As a result of the fraudulent vouchers submitted by Bolton, the indictment alleges that she was paid at least $96,563.26 in reimbursement for travel to which she was not entitled and the indictment seeks forfeiture in that amount.
Bolton faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for theft of government property and for making a false statement. No court appearance has been scheduled for Bolton.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the Department of Labor- Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Hollis Raphael Weisman, who is prosecuting the case.