Texan Sentenced for Workers’ Comp Fraud

The 90th Judicial District Court in Texas recently sentenced Eric Beaver to a two-year prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining workers’ compensation benefits.

According to Texas Mutual Insurance Company, Beaver was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, $253 in court costs, $300 for attorney fees, and $4,686.98 in restitution to Texas Mutual.

Beaver allegedly suffered an on-the-job injury while working for Orbit Plastic Pipe Inc. He started collecting temporary income benefits (TIBs) checks from Texas Mutual when his doctor declared that Beaver was unable to return to work because of the injury.

About two months later, he took a job as a handyman at Breckenridge Minit Mart, but allegedly hid the fact that he was working again so he could continue to collect TIBs. State law specifies that an injured worker must inform the insurance carrier if he or she returns to work in any capacity.

Texas Mutual investigators presented the case to District Attorney Stephen Bristow. The Stephens County Grand Jury indicted Beaver on April 17, 2002.

Beaver received a credit of 253 days for the time he spent in the Stephens County Jail. He will serve the remainder of his sentence in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility.