Columbus, OH – Chalmers Barnes III, of Belmont (Belmont County), pleaded guilty Jan. 5 in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas to one count of workers’ compensation fraud, a first-degree misdemeanor.
BWC fraud investigators received an allegation from a BWC claims service specialist that Barnes submitted falsified job search forms to receive non-working wage loss benefits. In order to receive this type of benefit, claimants must submit job search forms to show that they are searching for a job.
Investigators checked job searches Barnes submitted to BWC, and found that Barnes was not performing in-person job searches or completing job applications at those businesses. As a result, BWC paid benefits to Barnes that he was not entitled to receive.
Barnes was sentenced to one day in jail and given credit for time served. He also paid $749.47 in restitution prior to his sentencing.
Source: Ohio BWC SID