Two Columbus, Ohio women who were working as home health aides were sentenced recently for two separate cases of workers compensation fraud in Franklin County courtrooms.
Latonia Almon and Michelle Green became the subjects of separate investigations after the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) Special Investigations Department (SID) received data from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) indicating they were receiving wages while collecting workers comp benefits.
SID opened an investigation into Almon after receiving information from its Intelligence Unit that an ODJFS cross-match of data indicated she was employed while receiving workers comp benefits.
Investigators found Almon was working as a home health aide for Columbus Global Home Health during the entire period she was collecting disability for a workplace injury that occurred when she was working at the Scioto Juvenile Correctional Facility. During an interview, Almon admitted to “kinda” working and receiving payment for the services she provided. She also admitted she did not inform the BWC of this employment.
Almon was sentenced after pleading guilty to one fifth-degree felony count of workers comp fraud.
Judge McIntosh sentenced her to 12 months of incarceration, suspended for three years of community control, and ordered her to pay $70,610.55 in restitution to BWC.
Michelle Green also became the subject of an investigation following an ODJFS data cross-match that indicated she was earning wages while collecting benefits for a workplace injury.
The investigation confirmed Green was employed with Good Hands Home Health Care Service in Columbus. Evidence obtained during the course of the investigation also showed that she intentionally misrepresented and withheld her employment in order to continue collecting benefits.
Green pleaded guilty to attempted workers comp fraud, a first-degree misdemeanor.
She was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,899.99 and $100 in court 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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