Rocky Hill, CT – A Massachusetts man was recently arrested and charged with illegally collecting Workers’ Compensation and transportation benefits in the amount of $86,648.08 while being employed as a Correctional Officer with the State of Connecticut Department of Correction.
Matthew Hubbard of Agawam, Massachusetts was arrested by Inspectors from the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Control Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney on a warrant charging him with one count of Larceny in the First Degree by Defrauding a Public Community, one count of Fraudulent Claim or Receipt of Benefits, and one count of Perjury.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, on August 7, 2020, while working as a Corrections Officer for the State of Connecticut Department of Correction, Hubbard was injured while responding to a “code” report.
Hubbard was placed on Temporary Total Disability (TTD) and began receiving TTD benefits from the State of Connecticut. TTD benefits are wage replacement monies for those who qualify under the program. During that period of benefits, the recipient is considered to have zero work capacity and must inform their employer of any improvements in their injuries. They also are required to report any income beyond the benefits provided.
Hubbard received TTD Workers’ Compensation benefits in the amount of $74,129.72 and a payment of $12,518.36 for transportation costs to and from various medical appointments from May 6, 2021 through July 5, 2022. Documentation showed that while out on TTD Workers’ Compensation, Hubbard also was working as a real estate agent and reserve Police Officer in Massachusetts.
Hubbard surrendered himself at the Rocky Hill Police Department. He was released on a $10,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Hartford Superior Court, G.A. No. 14, on October 3, 2022.
Larceny in the First Degree by Defrauding a Public Community is a Class B felony punishable by 1-10 years imprisonment and/or up to a $15,000.00 fine. Fraudulent Claim or Receipt of Benefits is a Class B felony punishable by 1-20 years imprisonment and/or up to a $15,000.00 fine. Perjury is a Class D felony punishable by 1-5 years imprisonment and/or up to a $5,000.00 fine.
The case will be prosecuted by the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Control Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney in Rocky Hill. The charges are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Source: CT CSAO