PITCHER – A Pitcher woman pleaded guilty inside the U.S. District Court in Syracuse Tuesday for failing to report her goat-selling business while she fraudulently collected more than $60,000 in workers compensation benefits.

U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian announced yesterday that 53-year-old Susan Tansosch of Horton Road, Pitcher, pleaded guilty to defrauding the U.S. Department of Labor and the United States Postal Service in excess of $60,362 by making false statements and representations to obtain the federal benefits.

Hartunian’s office reported that Tansosch was facing a maximum sentence of 5 years in federal prison and up to $250,000 in fines.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.

Wednesday the Postal Service’s Assistant Special Agent in Charge Rafael (Rico) Medina said Tansosch was a former postal employee who worked as a rural carrier. He said she began collecting money around Oct. 1, 2008, for a physical disability. He said injured workers could be eligible to receive up to 70 percent of their former salary and other benefits depending on their specific circumstances.