Workers' Comp Fraud Blotter 1/16/2010 - Recent Arrests, Charges, & Convictions

Each week we'll be surveying what the media, state agencies, insurance companies, and others report in terms of workers' comp fraud. Just like a police blotter, our workers' comp fraud blotter lists recent arrests, charges, and convictions.

Workers' Comp Fraud Blotter – January 16, 2010

Psychologist, Boyfriend Arrested for Theft of Workers’ Comp Settlement Money (CA) – Kristin Hibbard and her boyfriend James Elrod were arrested for alleged theft of $29,000 from an elderly man’s workers’ compensation settlement of $150,000, by threatening and persuading the victim to sign over power of attorney of his finances to Hibbard, his former psychologist. Read more

Plattsburgh Area Man Arrested Again For Insurance Fraud (NY) – James R. Lacey of Morrisonville was convicted of insurance fraud in 2003 and arrested this past Wednesday on the same charge after investigators found that he falsified a medical examination to get full workers’ compensation benefits when he may have only been entitled to partial benefits. Read more

Grand Junction Woman Arrested for Workers’ Comp Fraud (CO) – Michelle McKee of Grand Junction was arrested for allegedly collecting more than $25,000 in workers’ comp payouts after making allegedly fraudulent claims as to the manner in which she hurt her ankle. Read more

Holliston Man Pleads Guilty to Falsifying Payroll Records (MA) – Paul McKunes and his company M&M Equipment Services in Ashland entered guilty pleas to falsifying payroll records at his business in order to pay less in workers’ compensation insurance and taxes. Read more

Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office Aggressively Pursues Fraud Claims With Dedicated Workers’ Comp Prosecutor (FL) – The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office is aggressively prosecuting employees who cheat workers’ compensation insurance companies as well as companies illegally avoiding payment premiums. Miami-Dade prosecutor Ankur Sevak has filed 11 cases since August and obtained four arrest warrants for defendants who remain fugitives, including Helmuth Droege, who allegedly collected $28,000 in benefits for a broken arm when he broke his arm wrestling on the job according to his co-workers. Read more

Hamptons Contractor Allegedly Underreported Payroll (NY) – Lloyd Nolan, a plumbing and carpentry contractor in Suffolk County , was arrested for allegedly concealing payroll that resulted in underpayment of thousands of dollars in workers’ compensation premium to the New York State Insurance Fund. Read more

Dutchess County Recycler Charged for Workers’ Comp Fraud (NY) – Bruce Wilcoxx of Amenia, NY, was arrested for allegedly colleting nearly $48,000 in workers’ compensation payments while he operated a recycling business, but claimed to be unemployed. Read more

Morgan Hill Couple Arrested for Not Carrying Workers' Comp Insurance at Local Café (CA) - William and Paula Quenneville, who operated the Hot Java To Go coffeehouse in Morgan Hill , were arrested for non-compliance of workers' compensation insurance requirements. Read more

Columbia County Woman Accused of Identity Theft, Larceny (NY) – Alma Rivas-Ford was arrested for allegedly collecting $12,000 in workers’ compensation benefits while working as an interpreter and driver for Hudson River Health Care, Inc., a medical clinic. Read more