News Release
     
December 21, 2006 
U.S. Department of Justice - United States Attorney

Gregory A. White, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio; David Williams, Inspector General, United States Postal Service; and Patrick E. McFarland, Inspector General, United States Office of Personnel Management, announced today that Jonmal M. Simmons, an officer with the City of Cleveland Division of Police, and Valerie M. Thomas, former United States Postal Service employee, were charged in an indictment returned by the Federal grand jury. The indictment charges Simmons, age 38, of 16020 Holmes Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and making a false statement during a federal investigation. Thomas, age 38, of 3087 Van Aiken Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and two counts of making a false statement during a bankruptcy proceeding.

According to the Indictment, Thomas and Simmons devised a scheme to defraud the National Association of Letter Carriers, Aetna Life Insurance Co., and the United States Postal Service whereby Thomas would enroll Simmons in her Federal Employee Health Benefits Program health plan as her spouse when, in fact, Thomas and Simmons were not married. The Indictment states that by naming Simmons as the spouse of Thomas, Simmons appeared to qualify for health insurance benefits under Thomas’s health plan. The Indictment alleges that Simmons received medical services valued at approximately $43,827.59 during the scheme for which the health insurance provider, Aetna Life Insurance Company, paid approximately $22,497.97.

In addition to the fraud scheme, the Indictment charges Simmons with falsely stating to federal investigators that he thought he was married to Thomas when, in fact, Simmons and Thomas were never married. Thomas is charged with making false statements in the course of two bankruptcy proceedings.

United States Attorney Gregory White said this of the arrests and indictment, “The charges in the indictment set forth not only a violation of law but a violation of public trust. This case is a reflection of our dedication to ensuring that public employees are held to the highest standard of integrity and honesty.”

If convicted, the Defendants’ sentences will be determined by the Court under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including any prior criminal record, each Defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Antoinette Thomas Bacon and Special Assistant United States Attorney Dean Wyman. The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General and the Office of Personnel Management, Office of the Inspector General, with the assistance of the Cleveland Division of Police headed by Chief Michael McGrath.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A Defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.