Texas Phlebotomist Sentenced for Workers’ Comp Double-Dipping

A Travis County district court sentenced a phlebotomist for double-dipping on her workers’ compensation benefits.

Ruth Castilleja of Baytown, Texas, was sentenced on workers’ comp fraud charges after reporting an injury while working as a phlebotomist for BestCare Laboratory Services LLC in Houston, Texas.

She reportedly claimed she was unable to work as a result of the injury.

Texas Mutual Insurance Co. began paying income benefits to her, but then reportedly discovered Castilleja was working as a phlebotomist for another company.

This type of activity is considered workers’ comp fraud and is often referred to as double-dipping because the claimant collects benefits for being too injured to work while simultaneously being employed.

The court sentenced Castilleja to a Class A misdemeanor with 18 months deferred adjudication. She also served three days in the Travis County Jail and attended theft school. She is expected to pay $7,100 in restitution to Texas Mutual.