Current or former fed employees charged with fraud

A dozen current or former federal employees and three others have been charged with defrauding federal housing programs out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in rent subsidies and public housing benefits.

Federal prosecutors announced the charges Thursday. Eleven of those charged are current or former postal workers.

A few defendants are also charged with defrauding the Social Security Administration of additional benefits.

Prosecutors say those charged allegedly reported less income than they were making. Had they reported their true incomes their benefits would have been cut.