Md. Man Convicted of Disability Scam

Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced that Jimmy Ray Osborn, 56, of Accokeek, Maryland, pled guilty in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County to felony insurance fraud. The conviction follows a joint investigation conducted by the Insurance Fraud Division of the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Office of the Attorney General.

In a statement of charges presented by the prosecutor, the court learned that Osborn sustained an injury while employed by Facchina Construction Company.

As a result, from April of 2001 through June of 2003, he received disability benefits of $573 per week and accepted vocational placement services for the purpose of job placement. An investigation reportedly revealed, however, that during this period he was gainfully employed by Vitale & Sons Plumbing and Heating Company. Consequently, he fraudulently received more than $34,000 in disability benefits to which he was not entitled.

The Honorable Ronald Schiff scheduled sentencing for May 27, 2005. Osborn could face up to 15 years in prison.