As a number of Buckeye State workers recently discovered, crime certainly does not pay.
A Cuyahoga Falls (Summit County), Ohio flight attendant was ordered to repay nearly $4,000 to the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) for working while receiving workplace injury benefits. Brieanna Younglove pleaded guilty Jan. 9 to one count of workers comp fraud, a first-degree misdemeanor.
“Ms. Younglove decided to return to work as a restaurant server while she was supposed to be recovering from an injury that occurred when she was a flight attendant,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Steve Buehrer. “Working while receiving this type of benefit is not permitted and our investigators are doing a great job identifying and putting an end to cases like this one.”
In March 2012, a BWC cross match with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services revealed Younglove was earning wages while receiving temporary total benefits. BWC’s Northeast Regional Special Investigations Department conducted an investigation. Employment records verified Younglove returned to work as a restaurant server.
Younglove was sentenced to 180 days in jail, which was suspended for three years of community control, plus she was ordered to pay a $100 fine and court costs. Terms of her probation include paying restitution to the BWC in the amount of $3,852.43.
More Workers Run Afoul of the Law
Meantime, several individuals were convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, charges related to defrauding Ohio’s workers comp system in December 2013.
The following case information represents a sampling of cases that resulted in guilty pleas or convictions during December:
Nicholas Thompson (Miamisburg, Montgomery County) was granted intervention in lieu of conviction Dec. 10 after being originally charged with six counts of deception to obtain dangerous drugs, fifth-degree felonies, and 13 counts of deception to obtain dangerous drugs, fourth-degree felonies, and workers comp fraud, a first-degree misdemeanor. All charges stemmed from a SID investigation; investigators found that Thompson used multiple physicians to obtain multiple narcotics prescriptions that were paid by the BWC. He also used multiple pharmacies to conceal his actions. Thompson was ordered to undergo drug and alcohol treatment and was placed on probation for five years. If he violates the court terms, he will be guilty of all charges and remanded to serve time in prison.
Jeffery Hall (East Liberty, Logan County) pleaded guilty Dec. 16 in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas to one count of workers comp fraud, a fifth-degree felony, for working while receiving benefits. SID received an allegation that Hall may have returned to work, and investigators found that he worked as an independent sales consultant between August 2011 and May 2012 while receiving temporary total disability benefits. Hall was found guilty and sentenced to community control and basic supervision for five years. Hall must also pay restitution to the BWC in the amount of $29,317.20 plus $2,227.04 – a total of $31,544.24. In addition, he was ordered to have no new convictions; if he violates the terms of community control, he will serve six months at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections.
Charles Newland (Vaughnsville, Putnam County) pleaded guilty Dec. 9 in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, to one count of workers comp fraud, a first-degree misdemeanor, for working while receiving benefits. The BWC began investigating after receiving an allegation that Newland was possibly operating a firearm and archery business near his home. Investigators found that he was operating Buckeye Archery next to his home and selling firearms, archery and hunting equipment and supplies between November 2010 and June 2012 while collecting temporary total, living maintenance and living maintenance wage loss benefits from the BWC. Newland was found guilty and sentenced to pay a $100 fine plus costs, which were suspended. He had already paid a total of $26,213.40 in restitution and investigative costs to the BWC prior to sentencing – $18,367.90 in restitution and $7,845.50 in investigative costs.
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.
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