Albany, NY – New York State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott recently announced the arrest of a City of Rochester woman on charges she defrauded the workers’ compensation system and stole $34,604 in insurance benefits to which she was not entitled.
Valerie Everett, 44, of Lyell Avenue, Rochester, was charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, Insurance Fraud in the Third Degree and the Workers’ Compensation crime of Fraudulent Practices, all felonies.
An investigation by Inspector General Leahy Scott found that Everett had been receiving workers’ compensation benefits since 2002 when she allegedly suffered knee and leg injuries after she slipped and fell off of a curb in the parking lot of the fast-food restaurant where she worked.
The investigation found that in June, 2008, Everett began working at Sutherland Global Services, Inc., in Rochester, New York. In November, 2014, Everett left that job and began working at Time Warner Cable.
Between 2009 and 2015, Everett falsely represented to her workers’ compensation insurance carrier in writing on four separate occasions that she was not working in any capacity. She also verbally told the insurance company that she was not working in any capacity during that same time period. Between May 2009 and September 2015, Everett received $34,604 in workers’ compensation benefits, about $211 every other week, to which she was not entitled.
“This defendant falsely represented her work status enabling her to receive workers’ compensation benefits to which she was not entitled for more than six years,” said Inspector General Leahy Scott. “I will continue dedicating the resources of my position and office to protect benefits meant to assist honest, hard-working New Yorkers.”
Under State law, employers are required to maintain Workers’ Compensation coverage for their employees, and employees are expected to provide truthful information regarding their work activity to insurance carriers and the Workers’ Compensation Board during the time they are receiving benefits.
Everett was arraigned in Rochester City Court and was released pending a next court appearance date of November 4.
The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Source: NY Inspector General’s Office