Trying to cheat the workers compensation system oftentimes leads to bad results.
Case in point, a Lima (Allen County), Ohio man was recently sentenced for working while receiving disability payments from the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) for a prior workplace injury. Joshua Schlosser was ordered to repay nearly $29,000 he improperly collected from the BWC.
“Mr. Schlosser held several positions while receiving thousands in disability and was prohibited from working,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Steve Buehrer. “Thanks to our dedicated Special Investigations team, I’m happy to report that this money is now being recovered and will be used to assist injured workers who really do require assistance to get back on their feet.”
Worker Got Wages from 4 Employers, Collected Disability
The BWC’s Special Investigations Department began investigating after identifying that Schlosser received wages from four employers while collecting disability payments from the agency. Investigators found Schlosser performed security work for two companies, worked as a meter reader for another and also served as a caretaker/maintenance technician for a fourth company, all while collecting disability.
Schlosser pleaded guilty June 17 to one count of workers compensation fraud, a fifth-degree felony. He was found guilty, sentenced the same day and placed on community control for five years.
Schlosser was ordered to pay restitution to BWC in the amount of $28,919.56.
He must also have a urine screen, maintain/obtain employment and remain violation-free, or else he will serve 12 months in the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
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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