One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
LA probation officer arrested on workers' comp fraud charges
The Los Angeles County Probation Department's administrative offices in Downey.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
A Los Angeles County Probation officer was arrested Tuesday for allegedly filing false workers' compensation documents, according to L.A. County Probation Chief Jerry Powers.
Cynthia Wesley, a detention officer assigned to Central Juvenile Hall, was arrested at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night on one count of filing a fraudulent insurance claim and one count of falsifying worker's compensation documents, Powers told KPCC, adding that Wesley was booked into Temple City Sheriff's station Tuesday night and was released on Wednesday on $60,000 bail.
KPCC reported last week on abuse of workers' compensation and disability policies among county probation officers.
Powers said Probation Department officials made the arrest in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Wesley's disability claim was labeled as suspicious by county probation investigators in May, according to Powers. A closer look by both probation and California Department of Insurance investigators revealed Wesley allegedly "manufactured" some of the claim forms she submitted to a supplemental disability insurance company to get benefits the department says she wasn't entitled to.
KPCC was unable to contact Wesley for comment.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
