Columbus, OH – The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) recently reported three workers’ comp fraud convictions from the month of December.
Larry Brown – Fletcher, North Carolina
Larry Brown was found guilty of one count of workers’ compensation fraud and must pay back $66,705.98 to BWC. BWC’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) opened an investigation after its Intelligence Unit identified Larry Brown was driving for a truck driving company based out of Fletcher, North Carolina. The investigation confirmed Brown had been employed as a truck driver since January 2014 while receiving permanent total disability benefits.
On December 13, 2021, Larry Brown pleaded guilty to one count of workers’ compensation fraud, a fifth-degree felony. Brown was sentenced to community control for five years and ordered to pay restitution of $66,705.98 to the BWC and to avoid any new convictions.
James Rivers – Willoughby Hills, Ohio (Lake)
On December 20, 2021, James Rivers pleaded guilty to one count of workers’ compensation fraud, a fifth-degree felony. Rivers was sentenced to non-reporting community control for five years and ordered to pay restitution of $22,453.66 to the BWC.
SIU’s investigation found that between July 2018 and June 2019 Rivers was employed as a crane operator and a shipping and receiving employee for different employers while concurrently collecting BWC disability benefits. Evidence collected by the SIU proved Rivers knowingly and with fraudulent intent worked while simultaneously collecting BWC disability benefits to which he was not entitled.
Frank Minter Jr. – Copley, Ohio (Summit)
On December 29, 2021, Frank Minter Jr. pleaded guilty to one count of workers’ compensation fraud, a first-degree misdemeanor. SIU’s investigation found that between September 2019 and June 2020 Minter had returned to work as a production technician while in receipt of BWC disability benefits.
Minter was sentenced to pay a $250 fine and court costs. Minter had paid his restitution of $15,787.96 in full prior to this court hearing.
Source: Ohio BWC