Court Sentences Texas Woman in Double-Dipping Scam

Texas Mutual Insurance Company reported that a Travis County district court sentenced Chindra Michael on workers’ compensation fraud-related charges. Michael was sentenced to four years’ deferred adjudication. She was also ordered to pay $3,010 in restitution to Texas Mutual and complete 50 hours of community service.

Michael reported a job-related injury while working as a direct care provider for East Texas Community Services in Silsbee. She claimed she was unable to work as a result of the injury, and Texas Mutual began paying income benefits to her.

Meanwhile, Texas Mutual uncovered evidence that Michael was working as a state prison guard while receiving income benefits.

Investigators call this type of scam double-dipping because the claimant collects benefits for being too injured to work when he or she is, in fact, gainfully employed. Texas law requires claimants to contact their workers’ comp carrier when they return to work. Left unchecked, double-dipping and other workers’ comp fraud can lead to higher premiums for all Texas employers.

Source: Texas Mutual Insurance Company