Woburn, CT – Attorney General Maura Healey recently announced that a Wilmington man has been indicted on larceny and workers’ compensation fraud charges in connection with collecting more than $26,000 in disability benefits while he allegedly continued to work.
Jerry Keith Bull, age 49, of Wilmington, was indicted by a Middlesex Grand Jury on charges of Larceny over $250 by False Pretenses and Workers’ Compensation Fraud. He will be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court at a later date.
“The unlawful collection of workers’ compensation benefits undermines the integrity of the insurance industry and takes funds away from those in need,” AG Healey said. “The investigation and prosecution of these crimes are important to deter this type of fraud and return funds to the Commonwealth.”
The AG’s Office began investigating this matter after it was referred by the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) in November 2014.
“Fraudulent insurance claims are costly, and are thrust upon the back of honest citizens and businesses,” said Daniel Johnston, Executive Director of the Insurance Fraud Bureau. “The Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts investigates hundreds of these cases annually, and works with the Attorney General’s office to see that perpetrators are brought to justice.”
Investigation revealed that Bull suffered an injury working in a restaurant in June 2009, and began receiving temporary total disability benefits after he made a workers’ compensation claim for medical expenses and recovery of loss wages.
In April 2010, Bull began working in a restaurant in Burlington, MA while continuing to collect benefits. During this time period, Bull allegedly intentionally made false statements regarding his wages and failed to disclose his return to work in order to continue to collect workers’ compensation benefits.
Authorities allege that Bull fraudulently collected approximately more than $26,000 in disability benefits between April 2010 and June 2011.
AG Healey’s Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Division works to protect consumers and the integrity of the insurance system by investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against all types of insurers, including the Commonwealth’s unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation systems.
This case is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Sara Shannon of AG Healey’s Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Division, with assistance from investigator Philip Mantyla of the Attorney General’s Office and investigators from IFB.
Source: CT AG’s Office