Ohio Man Ordered to Repay $31K in Workers’ Comp Benefits

An Ohio man was ordered to pay more than $31,000 in restitution to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC). Shannon Watson was sentenced Sept. 19 in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas on one count of workers’ compensation fraud, a fifth-degree felony. He pleaded guilty to the charge in July.

“One of our claims specialists received an anonymous call that Mr. Watson was working while collecting disability benefits, and shared that tip with our Special Investigations Department,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Steve Buehrer. “Employees across the agency collaborate for the common goal of protecting the State Insurance Fund, which provides for the care of injured workers across Ohio.”

Investigators found that Watson was working for a heating and cooling company in Brown County while collecting temporary total disability, and collected $31,100.28 in benefits between November 2007 and July 2009.

Watson was placed on community control for five years with basic supervision, must obtain and maintain employment, undergo urine screenings and pay court costs as well as $31,100.28 in restitution. If he violates conditions of his community control, Watson will serve 11 months at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

Source: Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation