ASHVILLE, N.C. – The grim halls of justice were echoed by the guilty plea of 74-year-old Sandra ‘Sandy’ Cannon Throneburg today. The retired postal worker faces prison time for deceitfully siphoning over $261,000 in workers’ compensation benefits while employed elsewhere.
Throneburg, a resident of Morganton, N.C., appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge W. Carleton Metcalf and admitted to lying about her ability to return to work, a ruse to continue receiving federal payments. The scheme spanned years, with Throneburg claiming inability to work while secretly performing duties for an accounting firm.
According to court documents, the fraudulently collected funds topped $261,000 in workers’ comp benefits and nearly $278,000 for medical bills. This egregious exploitation of the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) was halted when Throneburg signed a DOL OWCP Form EN 1032 with false claims about her employment status.
The USPS Inspector General’s Office is lauded for its relentless pursuit of Throneburg, ensuring that those who truly need workers’ compensation are not burdened by fraudulent schemes. U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson vows to protect the program, emphasizing the importance of integrity in the workers’ comp system.
Throneburg’s guilty plea to making a false statement on a report carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Sentencing is pending as Throneburg remains free on bond. The USPS OIG led the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth M. Smith handling the prosecution.
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Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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