BOSTON – A former U.S. Postal Service employee pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Boston to fraudulently obtaining worker’s compensation for medical travel.
Joseph Bouchard, 67, of Georgetown, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud in obtaining federal employee compensation. U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Marianne Bowler scheduled sentencing for Sept. 14, 2016. 
From January 1986 to December 2009, Bouchard was employed as a letter carrier in Reading, Mass. While on medical leave from 2008 to 2014, Bouchard submitted dozens of travel vouchers to fitness centers in Lexington, Lynnfield and Bedford for dates when he did not actually use those gyms or used a different gym of closer proximity. Bouchard’s fraudulent submissions totaled approximately $50,000.
The charging statues provides a sentence of no greater than one year in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of $100,000, or twice the gross gain/loss, whichever is greater, restitution and forfeiture. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Eileen Neff, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General in Boston, made the announcement today. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia M. Carris of Ortiz’s Public Corruption and Special Crimes Unit.
Ive known several people that were on legitimate OWCP cases because of traumatic injuries suffered at work. I know several more that were injured but never asked for compensation. These published cases of people committing fraud are designed to intentionally mislead the public and coworkers into believing that most injury cases are fakes. The OIG did a study and found that less than 1% of all cases are fraudulent. When do you ever see that published? Mailmen hit by cars, assaulted by customers. Clerks torn up by the machinery. Injured by broken equipment. One of the worst I ever saw? A clerk was unloading on of those postcons with the metal shelf. Another clerk ran into it with a u-cart and the shelf fell and completely knocked out the clerk doing the unloading. mamagements response? “You caused your own injury by working in the wrong location.” They claimed she was supposed to be sweeping. Another one? A mailman was in the left turn lane. A car rear ended her and flipped the mailtruck severely injuring the mailman. Managements response? “If you had been on the correct part of your route for that time of day your injury never would have happened.” The mailman were delayed leaving the office because of heavy mail volume. One bad apple doesnt put all the poor people that got injured and are recovering under suspicion. Your own sick mind does that. Would you want to be treated that way if you got hurt? BTW. i havwe a perfect sick leave record and no injuries. I was just in the mood to get the truth.