A former United States Postal employee has plead guilty to committing workers compensation fraud after he was found to have received over $18,000 in benefits fraudulently while still working for himself and earning a wage.
Thomas Dombroski of North Syracuse was formerly a letter carrier with the Post Office in East Syracuse when he made false statements to obtain $18,353 in federal workers compensation benefits. Dombroski admitted to prosecutors he falsely represented his unemployment status during 2010 and 2011 as he continued to collect federal benefits. He was receiving benefits for an injury to his right should that he claimed made it impossible to use his right arm.
While receiving his benefits, Dombroski was actually earning an income working or his own company, Picture Perfect Contractors. He performed installations and repairs of roofs and other general home repair services despite his injury claims. Investigators captured Dombroski on video carrying building supplies, doing repair work, loading and unloading firewood, hauling cement cinder blocks, and lifting a heavy air compressor.
Dombroski is scheduled to be sentenced on October 24, 2012 in Syracuse. If convicted of the fraud, he could face a prison sentence of 5 years, a $250,000 fine, and other legal consequences. He plead guilty in US District Court and as part of his plea, Dombroski agreed to make restitution for the amount of the defrauded federal workers compensation benefits.
