Graciela Salgado, Workers’ Compensation Fraud, Illinois 2024

CHICAGO — A United States Postal Service employee has found herself on the wrong side of the law after allegedly collecting thousands of dollars in fraudulent workers’ compensation benefits.

Graciela Salgado, 66, of Chicago, is accused of continuing to claim her ex-husband as a dependent after their divorce and his subsequent death in 2014.

Salgado began receiving workers’ compensation benefits in 2012 for an injury she sustained on the job, but the indictment states that she fraudulently continued to claim the augmented benefits, amounting to an additional 8 and 1/3 percent of her pre-injury monthly pay, from 2013 to 2024.

The total amount of fraudulent benefits Salgado allegedly collected is $51,776, according to the indictment.

Salgado, also known as Venegas, is charged with five counts of wire fraud and one count of knowingly making a false statement to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Each wire fraud count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, while the false statement charge is punishable by up to five years.

Salgado is set to be arraigned on January 6, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura K. McNally.

The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Dennus Bishop, Special Agent in Charge of the Central Area Field Office of the U.S. Postal Service–Office of Inspector General.

“Workers’ compensation benefits provide a lifeline to workers who are injured on the job and unable to perform their duties,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros.

“Committing fraud upon this important program undermines the financial stability of the insurance system, increases costs for businesses and consumers, and harms truly injured workers. Our Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who seek to collect workers’ compensation benefits to which they are not entitled,” he added.

The U.S. Postal Service paid $1.5 billion in workers’ compensation costs in fiscal year 2024, and the majority of postal employees who collect compensation benefits have legitimate claims due to on-the-job injuries, according to SAC Bishop.

However, a certain percentage abuse the system and cost the Postal Service millions of dollars in fraudulent claims and enforcement costs, he said.

“Today’s charges send a clear message that the USPS OIG and the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois, remain committed to safeguarding the integrity of this benefit program and ensuring the accountability and integrity of U.S. Postal Service employees,” said SAC Bishop.

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