EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Office of the Inspector General), published as received.

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Randy Goodwin, 56, of Belleville, Illinois, pled guilty today to a two- 
count  information  charging  him  with  making  false  statements  to  obtain  federal  disability 
compensation under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act.

According to court documents, Goodwin began receiving federal disability payments after he was 
injured working for the United States Postal Service in 2013.   After his injury, Goodwin began 
working  at  his  family’s  restaurant,  Good  Heavens  BBQ,  in  East  St.  Louis,  Illinois.  
Annual disability  forms  require  recipients  to  disclose  additional  earned  income  and  
employment. However, to avoid a reduction of his benefits, Goodwin falsely reported that he had not 
worked for any employers or had any involvement in any businesses for several years. This caused 
the United States Postal Service to pay him more in disability than he truly deserved.

As a result of his plea, Goodwin will lose all disability benefits going forward. He also paid over
$20,000 in restitution on the day of his plea hearing.

Special Agent-in-Charge Andre Martin, Central Area Field Office, U.S. Postal Service Office of 
Inspector General said, “The U.S. Postal Service paid $1.3 billion in workers’ compensation costs 
in fiscal year 2021. The majority of postal employees who collect compensation benefits have 
legitimate  claims  due  to  on-the-job  injuries  and  are  truly  unable  to  perform  any  
postal  jobs. However,  a  small  percent  abuse  the  system  and  cost  the  Postal  Service  
millions  of  dollars  in fraudulent claims and enforcement costs. This guilty plea sends a clear 
message that workers’ compensation fraud is a federal crime, which carries serious consequences. 
The USPS OIG and the  U.S.  Attorney’s  Office  remain  committed  to  safeguarding  the  integrity 
 of  the  workers’ compensation  program  and  ensuring  the  accountability  and  integrity  of  
U.S.  Postal  Service employees.”

Sentencing will be held at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis, Illinois, on June 13, 2022. In 
addition to losing his disability benefits and paying restitution, Goodwin could also receive up to 
a year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

The  investigation  of  this  case  was  conducted  by  the  United  States  Postal  Service  –  
Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke J. Weissler.