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LA probation officer arrested on workers' comp fraud charges
The Los Angeles County Probation Department's administrative offices in Downey.
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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.
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