Story Archive

Misdelivered

Caroline Zarate Boyle, 60, a U.S. Postal Service employee in Aurora, Colo., has taken 112 sick days in less than two years: cancer, she said, and produced a doctor’s note backing up her diagnosis. But with so many sick days came a review by the U.S.P.S. Office of Inspector General, who noticed something: the name of radiation oncologist Dr. Gregg Dickerson on her note was spelled wrong. He took the note to the cancer center, who said Boyle was not a patient there. Boyle now faces charges of passing forged writings, wire fraud, and possession of false papers to defraud the government. She faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. (RC/Denver Post) ...I’d support no jail time — if she puts in three times as many days into volunteer care for cancer patients.