Ohio Man Must Pay $9K in Restitution of Workers’ Comp Benefits

A Ohio man was ordered to repay more than $9,000 in connection with working while receiving workplace injury benefits. Jack Barker pleaded guilty April 21 in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas to one count of workers’ compensation fraud and one count of theft. Both are fourth-degree felonies.

BWC’s Special Investigations Department (SID) received a confidential allegation that Barker was working while receiving disability benefits. Financial records were obtained and analyzed, and field interviews were conducted with the employer Barker worked for while receiving benefits. Investigators found that he collected temporary total disability benefits while working as a driver for an excavation contractor.

Barker was ordered to complete Intervention in Lieu, a program designed to assist defendants with drug problems. A court-ordered evaluation found that he was a good candidate for the program. His case will be dismissed, if he successfully completes the program. If not, however, he will be sentenced on the guilty pleas. Terms of the program include repaying $9,839.83 to the BWC.

Source: Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation