SUFFOLK, VA – A former postal worker was sentenced on May 3 to 13 months in prison for workers’ compensation fraud. He also was ordered to pay nearly $164,000 in restitution to the Department of Labor.

Ronald Henderson, 58, of Lewiston, pleaded guilty to the charge on Dec. 2, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

According to court documents, Henderson falsely claimed to have injured his shoulder while performing his duties as a mail carrier in Suffolk. In reality, the injury had occurred previously while he was off duty.

In addition to receiving compensation as a result of the false disability claim, Henderson filed hundreds of false travel claims seeking reimbursement for expenses related to obtaining medical treatment, according to the press release.

He also failed to notify the Department of Labor after he returned to work, so we has able to “double-dip” by receiving workers’ compensation payments and his normal paycheck at the same time.