Auglaize County Woman Among 4 Convicted of Worker’s Comp Fraud
Written by WKTN Staff on July 13, 2019
COLUMBUS — Four Ohioans were convicted for workers’ compensation fraud or related charges in June, including a Springfield man who must reimburse the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) more than $13,000 after investigators found him working two jobs while collecting disability benefits.
Clark A. Howard pleaded guilty June 18 to a fifth-degree felony count of workers’ compensation fraud after BWC investigators discovered him working for a pizza shop in London, Ohio, and as a machine press operator for another business. A Franklin County judge ordered Howard to pay BWC $13,518 in restitution.
“We’re here to support injured workers as they try to get back to work and back to life, not supplement the income of able-bodied people cheating our system,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Stephanie McCloud.
The judge also sentenced Howard to 30 months of community control (probation) in lieu of a year in jail.
Other June convictions include:
Ben Patterson of Xenia, Ohio, dba C&B Landscaping
Patterson pleaded guilty June 25 to one count of failure to comply, a second-degree misdemeanor, for operating his landscaping company without BWC coverage since 2009. Investigators worked with Patterson to reinstate coverage, but Patterson failed to establish a payment plan.
Patterson paid all outstanding BWC premiums, related fees and interest on June 24, the day before his court hearing. A Xenia Municipal Court judge fined him $150 and court costs and sentenced him to 90 days in jail, suspended upon the condition he not have a similar offense for five years.
Patricia Simon of Columbus, Ohio
Simon pleaded guilty June 18 to one count of workers’ compensation fraud, a first-degree misdemeanor, after BWC determined she intentionally submitted a false statement to support her claim for workers’ compensation benefits. A Franklin County judge ordered her to pay a $250 fine and $128 to BWC for investigative costs.
Lori Hines of Waynesfield, Ohio, dba Marshall’s Hydraulic Services
Hines pleaded guilty June 7 to one count of failure to comply, a second-degree misdemeanor, after BWC found Marshall’s Hydraulic Services operating without BWC coverage since January 2017.
An Auglaize County Municipal Court judge sentenced Hines to a year of non-reporting probation, a 90-day suspended jail term and a $100 fine. Hines subsequently paid her BWC balance in full and the company’s coverage was reinstated.
To report suspected workers’ compensation fraud, call 1-800-644-6292 or visit bwc.ohio.gov.
