Santa Barbara, CA – District Attorney Joyce E. Dudley announced recently that on March 21, 2012, Judge Patricia Kelly ordered Robert James Christiansen, age 55, of Buellton, California, be placed on five years probation, serve 180 days in the Santa Barbara County Jail, and pay restitution in the amount of $35,000 to Rodney Williams Construction and $153,918 to the State Compensation Insurance Fund Company. This sentence was based upon Mr. Christiansen’s February 15,2012, felony conviction for committing Workers’ Compensation Fraud.
In 2008 Mr. Christiansen claimed he had been injured while working for Rodney Williams Construction. Due to his claims he was placed on total disability and began to receive workers’ compensation benefits and medical treatment. A few months later Mr. Christiansen was observed by insurance investigators to be performing work he claimed he was incapable of performing. The District Attorney’s Office wants to remind the community that making false statements or claims involving Workers’ Compensation Insurance is punishable as a felony and can result in sentences of up to four years incarceration and restitution orders to recoup illegally obtained benefits.
Source: Santa Barbara DA’s Office