Columbus, OH – A Steubenville (Jefferson County) man pleaded guilty to fraud after an investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) showed he was working while receiving workers’ comp benefits. Randall Bridges, Jr. was sentenced in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas and ordered to repay more than $6,000.
“Mr. Bridges took his sales job knowing he was prohibited from working while on workers’ comp,” said Steve Buehrer, BWC Administrator/CEO. “Our investigators are working daily to stamp this type of fraud out of Eastern Ohio, and all across the state.”
BWC’s Special Investigations Unit opened an investigation after receiving an anonymous allegation that Bridges was working as a sales person for Global Childcare Resources in Steubenville.
The investigation revealed that Bridges was employed as a sales person/independent contractor. He knowingly worked during periods he was receiving Temporary Total Disability benefits for a prior workplace injury. Temporary Total Disability is for injured workers who are totally disabled from work for a short period of time due to a work-related injury or occupational disease. An injured worker cannot work while receiving these payments.
Bridges pleaded guilty Sept. 17, 2013, to one misdemeanor count of workers’ compensation fraud. Judge Cain sentenced Bridges to 90 days in jail, suspended for two years of community control under the condition that he pay restitution in the amount of $6,151.45, maintain employment and have no new convictions.
Source: Ohio BWC SID