Texas Man Sentenced for Workers’ Comp Fraud

A Travis County court sentenced Henry Gomez on workers’ compensation fraud-related charges, reported Texas Mutual Insurance Co.

Gomez paid $1,155 in restitution to Texas Mutual and was sentenced to seven months’ deferred adjudication.

Gomez reported a job-related injury while working as a truck driver and supervisor for Wims Environmental Inc. in Garland, Texas. He claimed he was unable to work as a result of the injury and Texas Mutual began paying income benefits to him, the insurer said.

The Austin-based insurer uncovered evidence that Gomez was working as a sales consultant for another employer while receiving income benefits.

Investigators call this type of scam double-dipping because the claimant collects benefits for being too injured to work when he or she is, in fact, gainfully employed. Texas law requires claimants to contact their workers’ comp carrier when they return to work. Left unchecked, double-dipping and other workers’ comp fraud can lead to higher premiums for all Texas employers.

Source: Texas Mutual Insurance Company