Ohio Man to Pay $5K in Restitution for Workers’ Comp Fraud

A Ohio man was ordered to pay more than $5,000 in restitution for working while collecting workplace injury benefits.

Investigators with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation caught Daniel Verlinger on camera as they posed as customers of his shoe repair store.

Verlinger pleaded guilty Feb. 26 in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas to a charge of attempted theft, a first-degree misdemeanor.

“We received an allegation that Mr. Verlinger continued to work at his business while receiving BWC benefits intended to assist injured workers who are unable to work,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Steve Buehrer. “Workers’ compensation fraud is a crime. Our agents conducted a thorough investigation, and were able to get compelling evidence on video to bring this crime to light.”

While conducting undercover operations and surveillance, agents with BWC’s Northeast Regional Special Investigations Unit (SIU) observed Verlinger arriving at Together Leather and Shoe Repair, assisting customers and completing leather/shoe repairs. The SIU confirmed that Verlinger continued working while collecting temporary total benefits from October 2011 through April 2012.

Verlinger was sentenced to serve 90 days in jail, which was suspended for five years of community control. He is to pay $5,371.95 in restitution to BWC as a condition of his community control.

Source: Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation