Postal Worker Accused of Fraud

Monday, November 21, 2016 | 0

A U.S. Postal Service worker in northern Colorado was arrested on suspicion of workers’ compensation fraud after she was allegedly observed doing things she said she couldn’t do because of her injury, according to a report by the Julesburg Advocate.

Kristi Rae Ness, 54, filed a claim in May 2015 for an alleged on-the-job injury. The Advocate does not provide details about the nature of the injury.

While Ness submitted forms every two weeks indicating that she was too injured to work, prosecutors claim she was regularly observed engaging in physical activities around her home.

For example, in May 2016, she was allegedly videotaped using a saw to cut wood. And in June 2016, investigators observed her fixing a sprinkler system, spreading cement, cutting lumbar, swinging a sledge hammer, climbing ladders and shoveling dirt.

Ness was arrested Tuesday when she reported to work at the Julesburg Post Office.

A judge set her bond at $2,500 on Tuesday afternoon.