Mail carrier from Leetonia indicted for worker's compensation fraud

A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Jess A. Leon, 66, of Leetonia, with theft of government property and false statements and fraud to obtain federal employees’ compensation, said David A. Sierleja, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

The indictment alleges that Leon, a mail carrier employed by the U.S. Postal Service, failed to disclose income from other employment, resulting in the receipt of federal workers’ compensation benefits to which he was not entitled. It further alleges that Leon falsely represented his physical limitations in connection with his receipt of workers’ compensation benefits.

Assistant United States Attorney Megan R. Miller is prosecuting the case following an investigation by the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General.

If convicted, the court will determine the defendant’s sentence after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum. In most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.