Christopher S. Cassesse is charged with insurance fraud and theft by deception.
Christopher S. Cassese worked as a mailman before going out on paid injury leave, authorities say. (BCPO) BERGENFIELD - A former United States Marine has been arrested and accused of collecting $20,000 in paid injury leave from the U.S. Postal Service while working a side job as an exterminator, authorities said Thursday.
Christopher S. Cassesse, whose side job was the subject of a CNN iReport in March 2013, is charged with insurance fraud and theft by deception, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal said in a statement.
"Cassesse was working at his own pest control business, Semper Fi Pest Control LLC, while out on injury leave," the prosecutor said.
Cassesse worked as a mailman out of the Bergenfield Post Office before going out on paid injury leave, the prosecutor said.
The 44-year-old had been under investigation since December by the prosecutor's office and the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General, Grewal said.
The prosecutor said Cassesse completed and signed paperwork stating he was unable to work. The paperwork, submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Postal Service, also failed to disclose the side business, the prosecutor said.
Cassesse completed more than 10 forms indicating he was not working in any other capacity while on leave, the prosecutor said.
"The labor performed in his role with Semper Fi Pest Control was also determined to be of a physical nature similar to the work conducted by Mr. Cassesse for the Post Office; work he claimed that he was physically unable to complete," the prosecutor said.
The CNN iReport states Cassesse worked with another pest company before starting his own business.
"After learning the ropes and tricks of the pest control trade through a one-year stint with Viking Pest Control, Cassesse decided it would be more beneficial for him to venture off on his own," states the report, which contains the label "Not verified by CNN."
A voicemail message left with Semper Fi Pest Control was not immediately returned Friday morning.
Cassesse is charged with insurance fraud with five or more acts with a benefit wrongfully obtained with a value greater than $1,000. He is also charged with theft by deception.
A court date was set for Feb. 16 in Bergen County Central Municipal Court, the prosecutor said.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.