MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- A former Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune employee was sentenced for fraud and mail fraud in a federal court in Raleigh, N.C., May 4, for receiving federal worker’s compensation for a work-related injury and failing to report to the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs.
The former employee was operating a car repair and sales business in the local community, while receiving federal workers compensation.
“During that time he bought [more than] $20,000 worth of Snap-on tools and a Snap-on tire machine,” said Todd Foley a supervisory special agent for Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C.
The former employee was sentenced to two years federal probation, 100 hours of community service, a special assessment fee of $200, and was ordered to pay restitution to Camp Lejeune in the amount of $25,000, Foley added.
The amount was paid in full at the time of the sentencing and the funds were credited back to the base.
“In addition to the $25,000 restitution, more than $40,000 which had been seized from the former employee during the investigation, was also credited back to the base for total of more than $65,000,” explained Foley.
In addition, all of the Snap-on tools and a Snap-on tire machine seized during the investigation were released to the base’s Auto Hobby Shop on MCB Camp Lejeune for future patrons to use.
There were more than 80 tools seized during the investigation, which totaled more than $12,000 because they were previously used by the former employee, said Mike Payne, a special investigator with Cherry Point.
“Including the tools seized, the base received more than $76,000,” said Paul Ciccarelli, a criminal investigator for Camp Lejeune.
Because of the keen investigation by both Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point investigators, the annual cost avoidance to the operating budget of Camp Lejeune as a result of this conviction is more than $28,000 with a lifetime cost avoidance of more than 1 million dollars over the life time of the claim, explained Foley.