Agents say Minnesota woman bilked government out of benefits
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Authorities say a onetime U.S. Postal Service employee in western Minnesota cheated the government out of more than $100,000 in federal disability benefits by claiming she had a workforce injury while at the same time competing in dog agility events.
The Star Tribune reports that 57-year-old Lisa Schafer, of Glenwood, pleaded guilty to theft of government funds. In exchange for her plea, prosecutors will recommend probation, community service and restitution, instead of a prison sentence.
Investigators say Schafer told her doctor that her medical condition required her to rest most of the day. Her doctor limited her to two hours of office work a day, a restriction that kicked in her disability benefits. During this time, Schafer allegedly participated in 30 to 40 dog-agility competitions.
Schafer’s attorney, Patrick Cotter, told The Associated Press Sunday that his client “is a very good person who made a mistake that she is correcting.”
(Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com)
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