Former U.S. Postal Service employee Rodolfo Vázquez-Soto was convicted on all counts of fraudulently collecting workers’ compensation benefits, the Department of Justice announced today. The federal jury found him guilty of two counts of making false statements and one count of theft of government property after evidence revealed years of deception while receiving disability payments he did not deserve.
Vázquez-Soto, once employed by the USPS in Puerto Rico, claimed he was disabled and unable to work under the Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP). That program, designed to support federal workers injured on the job, paid him benefits beginning years before the 2013 indictment. But prosecutors proved he was not only physically capable of work — he was actively engaging in physical labor and public activities that contradicted his claims.
During the trial, federal prosecutors unveiled damning evidence: surveillance photos and videos showed Vázquez-Soto moving heavy objects, operating vehicles, and performing strenuous tasks while collecting full disability benefits. Witness testimony further dismantled his claims, confirming he had misrepresented his condition to OWCP administrators over an extended period.
The investigation, led by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), was supported by the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and the Puerto Rico Police Department. Their coordinated effort uncovered a pattern of deliberate fraud that undermined a program meant for truly injured workers.
“This conviction marks yet another victory in our fight against fraud in Puerto Rico,” said U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. “I thank our team of prosecutors and our federal law enforcement partners for the teamwork they showed in leading us to a successful outcome today.”
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Soto and Assistant U.S. Attorney Max Pérez. Sentencing for Rodolfo Vázquez-Soto is scheduled for a later date. He faces up to five years in prison for each count, along with fines and mandatory restitution to the federal government.
Related Federal Cases
- Bronx Tax Preparer Flor Soto Gets 87 Months for $24M Fraud · Puerto Rico
- Haitian Community Targeted: Menard Indicted in $600K Fraud · Puerto Rico
- Three NYC Men Busted in $250K Tax Fraud Scheme · Puerto Rico
- Jose Avianeda-Espinoza Gets 3 Years for Identity Fraud · Puerto Rico
- Supermarket Owner Juan Vasquez Sentenced in $2.6M Tax Fraud Scheme · Puerto Rico
Key Facts
- State: Puerto Rico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News