Ohio BWC Delivers Workers’ Comp Fraud Charges Against News Carrier

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) reported that John Dominick pleaded guilty to one felonious count of workers’ comp fraud. Dominick, a Lowellville resident, was ordered to pay $30,701.99 in restitution and placed under community control for five years.

If Dominick violates the terms of his community control or fails to make monthly restitution payments, he will serve eight months in jail.

In December 2002, the Youngstown special investigations unit (SIU) received an allegation that Dominick was allegedly working while collecting benefits. The SIU confirmed that Dominick was working as a newspaper carrier while collecting temporary total disability benefits (TTD) from BWC.

Injured workers who receive TTD benefits are temporarily disabled due to an occupational injury. TTD benefits are terminated when the injured worker is physically able to return to work.

The SIU’s findings reportedly indicate Dominick had been working while receiving TTD benefits from June 2001 through June 2003. Additionally, the SIU found that additional allowances within the claim for injuries sustained to his right ankle may have resulted from his work as a newspaper carrier and may not have been related to his original injury.

Dominick originally sustained head, back and neck injuries in June 2001 while working as a technician for Cerni Motor Sales.