VIDEO: Ohio Man Caught Committing Fraud

Columbus, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) - A Hamilton (Butler County) man who was caught on video working while receiving workers' compensation benefits pleaded guilty to fraud last week in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. David Jenkins was ordered to pay $7,000 in restitution to the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC), which discovered he was working for a scrap materials processor while he was supposedly unable to work while recovering from a prior workplace injury.

"Ohio's workers' compensation system exists so we can get injured workers healthy and back to work," said BWC Administrator/CEO Steve Buehrer. "That's why it is so frustrating to see someone take advantage of the system and diverting money that could be going towards the treatment of other injured workers."

BWC's special investigation department initiated an investigation after receiving an allegation that Jenkins had been scrapping materials at a Hamilton business while on temporary total disability. The investigation and surveillance video showed Jenkins was scrapping for a three-month period while he was prohibited to work. Records indicated he was even scrapping on the same days he was examined by his physician for his work-related injury.

Jenkins entered his guilty plea March 13 and was ordered to repay BWC $6,463.25 in addition to $536.75 for investigative costs. He also was sentenced to 180 days in prison suspended and five years of community control. If Jenkins has any other convictions while on community control, his probation will be revoked, and he will serve the prison time.

Share This Article: