Woman wants to pull guilty plea in workers' comp case

HAMMOND | A woman charged in federal court with making false statements to receive workers' compensation benefits as a postal employee is attempting to withdraw her guilty plea.

Chopper Loughran is claiming she had an ineffective attorney, who failed to adequately investigate her case, according to the request filed Thursday in Hammond federal court.

"Without counsel's deficient performance, Ms. Loughran would not have pleaded guilty," according to her request.

Loughran now says she's innocent.

She was working as a letter carrier out in Gary's Glen Park neighborhood July 18, 2008, when she claimed a work-related injury to her foot, according to federal court records.

Soon after, she began submitting forms in connection with travel she claimed was medically necessary, according to court documents.