Working and collecting benefits from the state isn’t right no matter how you try and cut it.
As one Ohio man found out recently, trying to get more than one payment at a time can land you in trouble with the law.
According to information from the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC), a Convoy (Van Wert County) man was sentenced for working at his landscaping business while receiving BWC benefits for a prior workplace injury.
Mark Mefferd was ordered to repay more than $18,000 after he was convicted of fraud for improperly collecting those benefits from BWC.
“Mr. Mefferd collected BWC benefits while trimming trees, pulling weeds, planting flowers and spreading mulch,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Steve Buehrer. “We do not tolerate those who try to defraud the workers’ compensation system. Every dollar that is collected to care for injured workers must be used for its intended purpose.”
Restitution Amounts to Nearly $19,000
BWC’s Special Investigations Unit received an allegation that Mefferd may have returned to work while receiving BWC benefits. Evidence indicated that Mefferd continued to operate his business and performed landscaping services for numerous businesses in northwest Ohio.
Authorities discovered that Mefferd was receiving temporary total, living maintenance and non-working wage loss benefits while operating the business.
Mefferd pleaded guilty Feb. 28 to one count of workers’ compensation fraud, a fifth-degree felony. He was sentenced April 19 and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $18,690.63, plus court costs.
He was placed on community control for five years and was informed that he will serve 11 months at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction if he violates the terms of his community control.
Author Michael B. Stack, CPA, Director of Operations, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in employer communication systems and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. He is a writer, speaker, and website publisher. www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com. Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
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