Los Angeles Police Officer Accused in Workers Comp Scam

A veteran officer of the Los Angeles Police Department, accused of engaging in workers compensation fraud, has been arraigned after he surrendered and was taken into custody.

Robert Yanez, 38, was charged with six counts of insurance fraud in case No. BA376308.

Yanez was charged on Sept. 28 in a felony complaint filed for arrest warrant. The charges stem from a work-related injury sustained in October 2008. Despite being ordered to return to work by a physician the day after the injury, prosecutors said Yanez began seeing a series of doctors, moving from one to another after each sent him back to work. While this is often thought to be because an employee is "doctor shopping" to find a more serious diagnosis than needed, there are instances where there is no mal-intent but the injured workers are looking for a correct diagnosis.

An investigation conducted by the LAPD, the District Attorney’s Healthcare Fraud Division and Tristar Risk Management revealed that the defendant submitted forged or altered doctor’s notes that allowed him to remain off of work.

The alleged offenses were committed between April and July 2009 and involve a loss of more than $7,000, prosecutors said.

Yanez, who was assigned to Wilshire Division at the time of his workers comp claim has been with the LAPD since 1999(WCxKit). 

If convicted as charged, he faces a maximum sentence of seven years in state prison.