Surveillance Video Shows Ohio Man Committing Workers’ Comp Fraud

A Cincinnati man who was the subject of an undercover investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) has been sentenced for working while receiving benefits for a prior workplace injury. Michael Gundling was sentenced April 11 and has returned more than $3,000 to BWC.

“Our fraud agents captured video of Mr. Gundling driving a dump truck to work sites for a trucking company,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Steve Buehrer. “Injured workers are not permitted to work while receiving these funds, as Mr. Gundling did. That money will now be used for its intended purpose: to care for injured workers who cannot work.”

BWC’s Special Investigations Department started an investigation after receiving a tip that Gundling was working while receiving temporary total disability. Investigators found that Gundling collected these funds while simultaneously working as a dump truck driver between March 5, 2012 and June 2, 2012. Gunding was caught on camera working and admitted to committing fraud when investigators approached him on the job site.

Gundling appeared in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas April 11 and entered a plea of guilty to one misdemeanor count of workers’ compensation fraud. He was given a suspended sentence of 60 days in jail as well as a $150 fine and court costs. The sentence was suspended on the condition that Gundling remain conviction-free for the next two years.

Gundling returned the $3,321.39 back to the BWC prior to the sentencing.

Source: Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation