On May 22, 2014, California Department of Insurance detectives arrested a San Jacinto woman suspected of filing fraudulent claims for mileage reimbursements associated with an allegedly fraudulent workers' compensation claim.
Jackie Sebastian, 60, a Postal Service mail processing clerk is facing felony insurance fraud and grand theft charges for submitting 249 false claims for mileage reimbursements.
According to detectives, Sebastian had filed a workers' compensation claim for $65,273.43 for transportation costs associated with mileage to and from her medical appointments. She received $13, 990 for mileage reimbursement, which according to detectives was not connected to any legitimate medical or pharmacy visits.
"Every cent spent on fraudulent claims adds up," said California Statewide Law Enforcement President Alan Barcelona. "CDI investigators are chipping away, case by case, to stop these thieves from stealing from those who rightfully need this benefit, and costing us all in higher premiums."
If convicted Sebastian faces a maximum of five years in jail, a possible fine and full restitution. This was a joint investigation between the California Department of Insurance, the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the United States Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
