Columbus, OH – A Tennessee man recently pleaded guilty to felony workers’ compensation fraud after collecting more than $33,000 from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation for a work injury he falsely claimed occurred in Ohio.
Roger Frankenberg pleaded guilty to the fifth-degree felony in Franklin County Common Pleas Court. A judge sentenced him to 11 months in jail, suspended for five years of probation, and ordered Frankenberg to pay BWC $33,210 in restitution.
“As many fraudsters discover, ripping off this agency clearly doesn’t pay, thanks to the good work of our Special Investigations Department,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Stephanie McCloud. “Not only does Mr. Frankenberg owe us $33,000, he has a felony record.”
Acting on a tip, BWC discovered Frankenberg had returned to work for his self-owned company, Custom Renovations and Beyond Inc., while receiving BWC disability benefits from December 2015 until December 2016.
Further investigation determined Frankenberg sustained his injury in Pennsylvania, not Ohio. But because he didn’t have insurance coverage in Pennsylvania, he fabricated a BWC claim so he could have his medical bills covered and collect indemnity payments.
Source: Ohio BWC SID