Money may not grow on trees, but that did not stop today’s fraudster from trying to shave a little green off with his chainsaw. A recent piece by WCPO-Channel 9 details how an Ohio man was convicted for workers’ compensation fraud and forgery after someone provided a tip that he was trimming trees for one company while collecting disability checks from another. According to the state Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, most of their investigations sprout from tips. (Nobody likes a cheater.)
This particular tree trimmer was collecting temporary total disability benefits, as well as living maintenance wage loss, the latter of which is allocated for workers who have lost wages, commit to rehabilitation but still have physical difficulties once back at work. To demonstrate wage loss, workers must submit documentation about their earnings. In this case, the man submitted to the state either forged checks or ones for lower amounts that he did not cash. (Just too far out on a limb.)
Ohio takes this kind of fraud very seriously, and equips investigative agents with an “arsenal” of tools to assist them in surveillance efforts. (With $400 million in losses for workers’ comp fraud, you bet they do.) So after receiving a tip that a man was trimming trees when he shouldn’t be, state agents suited up and secretly videotaped him in the act.
Interestingly, when the TV station requested comment from the defendant, he went so far as to send over documentation disputing the allegations that he was fraudulently collecting disability checks when he trimmed the trees. However, it didn’t take the state long to reaffirm its reporting, saying, “He told us he was working in an office, but he was actually trimming trees.” (A chainsaw makes quite a paper cutter.)
Ultimately, the two-timing trimmer pleaded guilty to felony charges stemming from the fraud and forgery. He received a year in jail, which was suspended for 18 months of community control. He also must pay $47,400 in restitution, including costs for the investigation.
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