Boston, MA – A Quincy man has been indicted on charges he fraudulently collected more than $28,000 in workers’ compensation benefits while working under a false identity, Attorney General Martha Coakley recently announced.
“We allege this defendant used a false identity to fraudulently collect workers’ compensation benefits while working,” AG Coakley said. “These benefits are essential to helping individuals that are unable to work as the result of work related injuries.”
“The Insurance Fraud Bureau continues to work through Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office to bring cases like this for criminal prosecution,” said Daniel Johnston, Executive Director of the Insurance Fraud Bureau. “Fraudulent Workers Comp claims drain money from the system needed for honest injured workers, as well as drive premium costs up for businesses that are striving to succeed in this economy.”
Paulo DaSilva, 53, is charged with Workers’ Compensation Fraud and Larceny Over $250.
According to authorities DaSilva suffered a work related injury in August 2010 while working for a landscaping company and began collecting total temporary disability (TTD) benefits from NGM Insurance Co. (NGM), the company’s insurer.
While collecting benefits, DaSilva allegedly applied for another landscaping job using an assumed identity and began working in April 2011. During the time of this employment DaSilva underwent an Independent Medical Examination to confirm that his injury was work related and incapacitating. According to authorities, at the examination DaSilva claimed to be unable to work while he was allegedly working fulltime.
According to authorities DaSilva entered into a negotiated settlement to conclude his workers’ compensation claim with NGM in October 2011. Based on his alleged false representations that he had not worked, DaSilva fraudulently collected a combined total of more than $28,000 in workers’ compensation benefits.
A Suffolk County Grand Jury returned indictments against DaSilva on Thursday. DaSilva will be arraigned on Feb. 26 in Suffolk Superior Court.
Source: MA AG’s Office