Baton Rouge, LA (WorkersCompensation.com) - The Louisiana Workforce Commission and law enforcement agencies continued the fight against workers' compensation fraud with three recent arrests in the New Orleans metro area.
A Metairie construction company owner, a laborer from Kenner and an Abita Springs legal secretary were arrested and charged in unrelated workers comp fraud cases. These arrests bring the total number of employers and workers to nine who have been charged this year with workers' comp fraud, part of a crackdown by the LWC working with the Louisiana Attorney General's Office and local law enforcement around the state.
“We will not tolerate fraud, and we're committed to protecting the integrity of the workers' compensation system to protect all workers and businesses who play by the rules,” LWC Executive Director Curt Eysink said.
On June 1, Scott W. Tillman, 48, of 1013 Cleary Ave., Metairie, and Andree T. Williams, 35, 1102 Fairway Drive, Kenner, were booked in Jefferson Parish. Tillman, who owns a carpentry/construction firm, is charged with making false statements to his workers' comp insurer in an effort to save $56,000 in policy premiums. If convicted, Tillman faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250 for each day he was in violation of the law.
Williams is charged with making false statements to his insurer in order to get workers comp benefits. The amount of loss in the case is estimated at $3,500. If convicted, Williams faces a maximum of five years in prison, a fine of $5,000, or both.
In May, 37-year-old Charmaine T. Arrington, of 72383 Violet St., Abita Springs, was booked in St. Tammany Parish with knowingly submitting false information about a job injury. Arrington, a legal secretary with the 22nd Judicial District Public Defender's Office, didn't actually suffer a job-related injury, and in fact, had notified a co-worker in advance of her plans to fake a job injury. As a result of her fraudulent claim, her employer incurred expenses of more than $19,000, including medical payments, investigative and legal fees. If convicted, Arrington faces up to 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both.
