Two Ohio Men Owe $200,000 in Workers’ Comp Fraud

Two Ohio men have been sentenced after they were convicted of fraud for working while collecting workers’ compensation benefits.

BWC’s Special Investigations Division (SID) opened an investigation into Kenneth McElroy after learning he was self-employed snow plowing and repairing lawn mower/landscape and construction equipment while receiving temporary total disability benefits. SID conducted numerous interviews confirming that the Chardon man was performing these services at his home and at customer’s residences.

McElroy owes $80,000 to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) and was sentenced to five years of community control and a suspended a six month prison sentence.

William Hill was discovered operating his own business, Hill’s Contracting Company, and must repay more than $133,000.

Hill became the subject of an investigation after a BWC claims service specialist suspected he may be working for his own company while receiving temporary total disability benefits. An investigation verified the Chesterland man was operating Hill’s Contracting Company for three years in direct conflict with his disability benefits.

Hill pleaded guilty to one felony count of workers’ compensation fraud and was ordered to pay $131,919.43 in restitution and an additional $2,000 for investigative costs. He was also sentenced to five years of community control.

Source: Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation