Ohio Business Owner Sentenced in Workers’ Comp Fraud Case

An Ohio business owner has been sentenced following a fraud investigation that showed he was operating his business in violation of the law that forbids injured workers from working while receiving benefits from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC).

BWC’s Special Investigations Department (SID) received a fraud allegation from a BWC employee who suspected Seiber of working while receiving disability benefits. When the employee called Seiber, she received a voice message for a business called Roofer Inc. SID opened an investigation suspecting that Seiber may be working at Roofer Inc. The investigation found Seiber owned and operated the company and performed work activities including contacting customers, appraising roofs, preparing proposals, supervising staff, and handling money transactions.

Seiber pleaded guilty August 10, 2011, in the Franklin County Common Pleas Court. On September 27, Seiber was sentenced to 12 months incarceration, suspended, and five years of community control. He was also ordered to pay restitution to in the amount of $24,883.88, including $1,000 for investigative costs.

Source: Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation