SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — A former U.S. Postal Service employee who claimed to spend 15 hours a day in a hot tub to relieve a work-related injury has been sentenced for bilking the federal government out of nearly $430,000 in disability benefits.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Syracuse says 62-year-old Carol-Lisa Gutman of the Albany suburb of Delmar was sentenced Wednesday to 22 months in prison and ordered to repay more than $429,000 to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Gutman was convicted earlier this year of wire fraud and other charges stemming from her 15-year fraud scheme involving Workers' Compensation benefits she began receiving after claiming she injured her back while working for the post office.

Prosecutors say she claimed to be completely disabled, but video recordings showed her working in her yard, raking leaves and lifting heavy objects.

[STORY BY: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS]

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