Connecticut man charged with comp fraud

A Woodbridge, Connecticut, man is facing workers compensation fraud charges after investigators with the workers comp fraud unit in the Connecticut Office of the Chief State’s Attorney claimed he illegally collected more than $30,000 in benefits while he was working for another company, the office announced Friday.

Michael Steinfeld, 46, was arrested Friday on an arrest warrant charging him with one count of fraudulent claim or receipt of benefits, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $15,000, the state’s criminal justice division said in a statement.

Mr. Steinfeld allegedly collected $30,454 in temporary disability benefits after he reported suffering a work-related injury on Oct. 1, 2012, while employed by a Seymour, Connecticut, paving contractor.

A subsequent investigation found that Mr. Steinfeld was working for another company and was paid $125,500 in wages at the same time he was collecting the workers comp benefits, according to the arrest warrant.

He is due to appear in Derby, Connecticut, Superior Court on Nov. 27, according to the statement.