Houston Nurse Sentenced for Workers’ Comp Fraud

Texas Mutual Insurance Company reported that a Houston nurse has pleaded guilty to workers’ compensation fraud-related charges.

The Travis County 299th Judicial District Court sentenced Brenda Hernandez to five years of deferred adjudication. The court also ordered Hernandez to perform 200 hours of community service and repay $14,499 in benefits she fraudulently obtained from Texas Mutual, plus costs.

According to Texas Mutual, Hernandez reported a job-related injury while working as a licensed vocational nurse assigned to the Harris County Jail by JWS Health Consultants Inc. of Houston. She claimed she was unable to work as a result of the injuries, and Texas Mutual Insurance Company began paying her workers’ compensation income benefits.

The insurer said it uncovered evidence that Hernandez was working for four different companies in Minnesota while she received income benefits. State law requires injured workers to contact their workers’ compensation insurance carrier when they return to work.

Source: Texas Mutual