Md. Man Nabbed in Disability Scam

May 31, 2005

Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced that Jimmy Ray Osborn, 56, of Accokeek, Maryland was sentenced in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County following his conviction last month for felony insurance fraud. The Honorable Ronald Schiff sentenced Osborn to three years’ incarceration, suspended that sentence and placed him on two years’ probation.

In a statement of charges presented by the prosecutor at the time of his guilty plea, the court reportedly learned that Osborn sustained an injury while employed by Facchina Construction Company.

As a result, from April of 2001 through June of 2003, he received disability benefits of $573.00 per week and accepted vocational placement services for the purpose of job placement. An investigation revealed, however, that during this period he was gainfully employed by Vitale & Sons Plumbing and Heating Company.

Consequently, he fraudulently received more than $34,000 in disability benefits to which he was not entitled.