Columbus, OH – The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) Special Investigations Department recently announced that Jerry E. Armstrong (Elyria, Lorain County) has pleaded guilty to a fifth-degree felony count of workers’ compensation fraud for working while receiving Temporary Total Disability benefits for a prior workplace injury.
According to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) Special Investigations Department, an investigation found that Armstrong worked as an independent contractor for a cabinet manufacturer while receiving temporary total disability funds. An injured worker cannot work and receive temporary total disability payments.
Armstrong was indicted on two counts of workers’ compensation fraud and two counts of theft, and initially pleaded not guilty. He later pleaded guilty to a single charge of workers’ compensation fraud. As a result, the other three charges were dismissed. Armstrong was sentenced on March 22 to serve 10 months in jail, which was suspended for five years of community control. His community control terms include paying restitution to the BWC in the amount of $12,473.05.
Source: Ohio BWC SID