LOS ANGELES — On April 8, 2014, Wayne Lu, 53 of Torrance was arrested  on charges of alleged workers’ compensation fraud associated with an injury received during his employment with the U.S. Postal Service.  

Detectives from the California Department of Insurance (CDI), with the assistance of U.S. Postal Inspectors, arrested Lu  in Manhattan Beach after an investigation revealed he was working as a massage therapist despite claims of a shoulder injury.

Detectives conducted surveillance and undercover operations that proved Lu was a working massage therapist and failed to report his employment or improvement of condition to the United States Department of Labor, the entity that handles workers’ compensation for the U.S. Postal Service.

Detectives from CDI’s Fraud Division are currently part of a task force operated by the Office of Inspector General – Postal Inspection Unit, focused on investigating and arresting postal employees who are suspected of committing insurance fraud in the State of California.

“It is shameful and criminal,  people who take advantage of workers’ compensation,” said Alan Barcelona, president of the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) which represents CDI detectives.  “It ultimately raises the cost of premiums and works against employees  who are injured on the job and need care.”

Wayne Lu is charged with one felony count of insurance fraud.   The case will be prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.