Former Fed Fakes Cancer For Free Days Off

Deception Prompted 30 Fellow Employees To Donate Almost 1,000 Hours Of Vacation Time

(AP)  A former federal worker who persuaded employees nationwide to donate nearly 1,000 hours of their own paid leave so he could take time off for fictitious cancer treatments pleaded guilty to fraud Friday.

Robert Joseph Thom, 45, of Oceanside, admitted guilt for 10 counts of wire fraud that carry a combined sentence of up to 20 years in prison. He is to be sentenced Feb. 8 in U.S. District Court.

Thom was an information technology specialist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Southern California when he signed up nearly a year ago for a national donor list. He falsely claimed that he had undergone "multiple urgent surgeries for the removal of malignant tumors," according to court records.

He forged four letters from a doctor, all attesting to his ongoing medical problems, according to a September indictment.

A February letter claimed he needed more time off after developing infections. The last letter, in June, alleged that Thom had developed a malignant brain tumor.

Thirty Department of Interior employees responded to Thom's plea for help. They donated more than 982 hours of leave time with a value of nearly $40,000 so he could keep getting his salary and benefits while he was off work.

Donations came from Alabama, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Virginia and Washington, court records say.

It wasn't until August that the Geological Survey's Sacramento office sent Thom's doctor copies of the letters, according to an affidavit by an Interior Department investigator.

The doctor responded that the letters were "a complete and utter fraud," according to the affidavit. Thom was a real patient, but he had never been treated for cancer, the doctor told investigators.

His attorney, Dennis Waks, declined comment.

Prosecutors said Thom has agreed to make full restitution. He remains free on bond.

Thom, who was hired by the Geological Survey in 2004, is no longer a federal employee.

[mswolfestock]

This SOB is the reason that all the rest of us have to be at death''s doorstep to take a day off without being harrassed and suspected of cheating or slacking off. I hope he gets really sick now that he does not have that great Federal Government Benefits Package. I hope he rots in hell. I hope he ends up homeless. Maybe he can get run over by an AMTRAK train - now there''s some justice, innit?

[erasmus6]

"You CANNOT be fired for reporting FWA." posted by SBB2211

Maybe not, but they will find something else to fire you for.

[grammawhamma]

Low life scum.

[incog-nito]

I hope he gets a lot of rest and feels better soon.

[sbb2211]

To those of you (mcv57) that bad-mouth ALL civil service employees:

You CANNOT be fired for reporting FWA. That''s the law. You probably sucked, that''s why you were fired and are bitter about the civil service.

I think this Mr. Thom is a cheating, lying POS. The time that other civil service employees donated came from regular leave NOT accrued sick leave. That means that, once donated, you never get it back.

Even if Mr. Thom says that he will make full restitution, it is highly unlikely that any of the personnel that donated leave will actually be recompensed.

[mcv57]

I am sorry for being a true Christian, yes I am a whisleblower.

[ontheleft]

What this guy did was low. The lowest of the low.

"I got fired for trying to turn them in to authories (fraud waste abuse). Its a circus gone mad in the Federal Government."

Sadly, it never pays to be a whistle blower.

[mcv57]

SHURCH4TRUTH,

I disagree, the quite civil service, are just as guilty - frighten they would be fired. I know what kind of federal workers you are talking about. Believe, every cop on "active" force knows this - turning a blind eye to the corruption. They know the corruption that goes on, but they don''t say nothing. It''s called aiding the criminals.

[mcv57]

This civil service employee is either being made an expample, or they are framing him (not being a team member of the mass corruption). This such a joke, I am serious. I was an civil service employee. They are so corrupt, especially on the military bases. They are worst than the White House Officials. Rotten to the core.

[mcv57]

I got fired for trying to turn them in to authories (fraud waste abuse). Its a circus gone mad in the Federal Government.

[mcv57]

I worked with Civil Service employees, they worst then the people at the White House. This is old and nothing new. Some of these federal employees are so fat and lazy, they actually hurt themselves (injure their back) to get a desk job. NO lie, it is the truth. They are living off the system - regular lych. They actually get a retirement for doing nothing.

[erasmus6]

"This guy is a perfect candidate for experimental medicine. Let''''s use him as a guinea pig." posted by drivelphobe

Okay, but I get to go first and forget the medicine, my first experiment will be to see how much his balls can be stretched.:)

[cfin5]

I honestly don''t know why I click on these kind of stories. Nothing surprises me anymore at what lengths some twit will work on to get out of work......Even though the good guys were duped, I still say thanks to the kind hearted people for the donated time they did as it was a worthy cause.

[denn034]

Jerk!

[drivelphobe]

This guy is a perfect candidate for experimental medicine. Let''s use him as a guinea pig.

[rafan1]

He should be fired and have to pay back the money but so should Bush & Cheney... They lied, cheated and stolene and no one has tried to have them fired. They have stolen our freedoms in this country and why are there not riots in the streets over their actions.. Democrats are no different than the republicans. They both do nothing to help the poor and the weak..

[rafterman1]

20 years of vacation in Fed jail seems appropriate.

[krazykat2525]

he should get a long vacation at the funny farm.

[oldpilot954]

Like most other criminals, he probably considers everyone else an idiot who deserves to be robbed. After all, it is survival of the fittest. I would propose the government give him a new job -- cleaning toilets at Gitmo. Let''s see -- $40,000 plus interest and legal costs at minimum wage...

[erpcat]

quintessential greed & gluttony promoted by todays gov''t and society