Former Illinois Policeman Accused of Worker’s Comp Fraud

A former police officer in a southwestern Illinois village is accused of collecting nearly $190,000 in fraudulent worker’s compensation benefits.

A Madison County grand jury indicted 43-year-old Richard Turner of Glen Carbon on Thursday of two counts apiece of theft and violating Illinois’ worker’s compensation statute.

Prosecutors say Turner was working for the Maryville Police Department in early 2009 when he said he’d hurt his back. They said he falsely claimed the injury happened on the job.

Investigators say Turner wrongly got $38,000 in benefits from the village and an additional $150,000 from its insurance carrier.

Turner started with Maryville police in late 2003. He resigned in October of last year.

Online court records don’t show whether Turner has an attorney, and he doesn’t have a listed home telephone number.