According to the indictment, the employees claimed to do more strenuous activities (and thus earn more points). They also allegedly entered activities for co-workers and their dependents in return for keeping some of the points.
When submitting a co-worker's activity into the system, the employees are said to have kept a portion of the $250 award, usually $50.
Kansas City, Mo., Municipal Court employee Crystal Burgin-Woods, 42, was allegedly the biggest recipient of the points, piling up 383 gift cards totaling $185,655. The scheme totaled 1,253 fraudulent gift cards issued, totaling $310,960.
Some of the exercise claims that the employees allegedly made are absurd. The indictment says the employees claimed that kids - often 5 years old or younger - competed in marathons and triathlons.In one claim, a 2-year-old was said to have run three marathons and a triathlon. Michael King, of the city's water department, allegedly said he did three duathlons, three marathons, two half-marathons, an Olympic lifting competition and four triathlons.
Kansas City's City Manager Troy Shulte released a statement this afternoon: "We are very saddened with the allegations brought upon a small group of City employees. These alleged actions do not represent the majority of City employees who adhere to the City's ethical standards."
Here's a full list of the indicted employees and their departments: Crystal Burgin-Woods, 42, an employee of the Kansas City, Mo., Municipal Court; Matt Stivers, 41, an employee of the city's IT department; Kim Blair, 36, and Sylvia Sims, 37, both employees of the city's parks and recreation department; Matt Tholen, 29, an EMT; Michael King, 30, an employee of the city's water department; Michael Olukotun, 39, a corrections officers at the Jackson County jail.
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