Comp fraud convictions lead to $66,000 in restitution

Thirteen people convicted of workers compensation fraud in January owe the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation at least $66,000 in restitution, the agency said Friday.

Seven of the convictions were for working while receiving workers comp benefits, the bureau said in a statement. The highest penalty was assessed against William Seckler of Andover Village, Ohio, who was found working as a delivery driver for an Amish roofing company while receiving comp benefits.

Mr. Seckler was ordered to pay $14,520 in restitution and $2,530 in investigative costs. He was also ordered to serve a suspended sentence of 180 days in jail, as well as four years of community control, the workers comp bureau said.

Other convictions for working while receiving comp benefits resulted in penalties of between $2,522 and $8,366.

One conviction for falsified wages resulted in a restitution order of $12,861, the bureau said. Tony Harn of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty to one count of workers comp fraud and one count of theft for falsifying wage earnings statements used to calculate injured worker benefits. A 180-day jail sentence was suspended.

Two convictions were for lapsed comp coverage and resulted in penalties of $5,687 and $3,884.

Three claimants have yet to be sentenced, said the bureau, which is Ohio’s monopoly workers comp insurer.

“The money we recoup from these cases will go where it rightfully belongs — caring for those who are legitimately injured on the job and creating safe workplaces across Ohio,” said bureau Administrator and CEO Sarah Morrison, in the statement.