For one Ohio man, the law proved to be smarter in the long run.
The Rock Creek (Ashtabula County) man was ordered to repay more than $9,000 in connection with working while receiving workplace injury benefits.
Jack Barker pleaded guilty in April in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas to one count of workers compensation fraud and one count of theft. Both are fourth-degree felonies.
“When we provide benefits to injured workers who falsely represent their employment status, Ohio employers must needlessly pick up the tab,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Steve Buehrer. “We are committed to detecting workers compensation fraud to keep employer premiums as low as possible and to maintain the integrity of the State Insurance Fund.”
Financial Records Prove Defendant’s Downfall
BWC’s Special Investigations Department (SID) received a confidential allegation that Barker was working while receiving disability benefits.
Financial records were obtained and analyzed, and field interviews were conducted with the employer Barker worked for while receiving benefits. Investigators found that he collected temporary total disability benefits while working as a driver for an excavation contractor.
Barker was ordered to complete Intervention in Lieu, a program designed to assist defendants with drug problems. A court-ordered evaluation found that he was a good candidate for the program.
His case will be dismissed, if he successfully completes the program. If not, however, he will be sentenced on the guilty pleas. Terms of the program include repaying $9,839.83 to the BWC.
Author Kori Shafer-Stack, Editor, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in post-injury response procedures and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com. Contact: kstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
©2014 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law.
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