A U.S. Postal Service worker who faked cancer to get two years paid leave from work has been convicted of fraud.
Caroline Zarate Boyle of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, was ordered on Tuesday to pay a $10,000 fine as well as $20,798.38 in restitution to the U.S Postal Service while also completing 652 hours community service at a cancer treatment center, the U.S. Justice Department said in a statement.
According to the plea, Boyle decided to take time off work under the false pretence of having cancer in 2015, after she was overlooked for a promotion.
The 60-year-old woman told her supervisor at the U.S Postal Service that she had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and began taking substantial sick leave.
In February this year, an agent of the Postal Service’s Office of the Inspector General interviewed Boyle and discovered that her cancer claims were unwarranted.
"Boyle was to continue this fraud until her scheduled retirement in April 2017," the Justice Department statement read. "Despite claiming that cancer treatment had made her too sick to work or come to the office, she was planning a post-retirement cruise to Hawaii."
Investigations revealed that Boyle had created fake doctors notes confirming her cancer treatment, which were submitted to her employers.
It was also discovered that she had falsely accused another member of staff for "faking cancer."
Executive Special Agent in Charge, Scott Pierce, said the U.S. Postal Service would launch thorough investigations into any matters in which employees violate the trust of the service.
"This type of behavior within the Postal Service is not tolerated and the overwhelming majority of Postal Service employees, which serve the public, are honest, hardworking, and trustworthy individuals who would never consider engaging in any type of criminal behaviour," he said in the statement.
"The USPS OIG and U.S. Attorney’s Office remain committed to holding accountable anyone responsible for such violations."
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