Helena, MT – Gareth Lea of Great Falls recently pled guilty to felony theft for illegally collecting workers’ compensation benefits for a work related injury.
Montana State Fund’s (MSF) Special Investigations Unit and the Montana Department of Justice learned that Lea was working in the construction industry and operating a tow truck at the same time he was receiving the workers’ compensation benefits.
The Montana Attorney General’s Office filed felony theft charges against Lea and the court ordered him to pay a fine of $500 and full restitution of $12,455.90 to Montana State Fund.
Since the program’s inception in 1993, MSF has recovered $54.5 million in savings from fraudulent claims and employer misconduct. Montana State Fund insures over 26,000 employers in Montana.
Source: Montana State Fund