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Drug-trafficking nurse practitioner among comp convictions

Posted On: Dec. 7, 2018 12:24 PM CST

Drug-trafficking nurse practitioner among comp convictions

Eight Ohioans convicted on workers compensation fraud or related charges in November include a Springfield nurse practitioner who pleaded guilty to felony drug trafficking and a Cleveland-area man who collected $245,000 in disability benefits while working construction jobs since 2009, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation reported Friday.

Douglas Shrewsbury pleaded guilty Nov. 16 to several drug charges in the Clark County Court of Common Pleas after multiple authorities found him running a pain clinic without a proper license, according to a statement. The charges included aggravated trafficking in drugs, a first-degree felony; aggravated possession of drugs, a second-degree felony; and Medicaid fraud, a fourth-degree felony, the BWC reported.

“Mr. Shrewsbury wrote 56 prescriptions for Schedule II narcotics to injured workers in our system without an overseeing physician, which is beyond his scope and illegal,” Jim Wernecke, director of the Ohio BWC special investigations department, said in a statement.

Mr. Shrewsbury’s sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 27.

Among other convictions, Louis Cooper of North Royalton, Ohio, pleaded guilty Nov. 19 in a federal courtroom to one count of theft of government property and wire fraud. He was released on a $20,000 unsecured bond and must surrender his passport and participate in a pre-sentence investigation prior to his March 5 sentencing,

Acting on a tip, BWC investigators found Mr. Cooper working as a self-employed general contractor, installing flooring and drywall and remodeling bathrooms. Due to concealing his work activity, Mr. Cooper fraudulently secured about $245,000 in benefits from the Social Security Administration and BWC, of which $167,000 came from BWC, the bureau reported.

The BWC on Friday reported other convictions in November, including:

  • Dean Richards of Lancaster, Ohio, who pleaded guilty Nov. 29 to one count of workers compensation fraud after BWC agents found him working as a construction subcontractor while receiving permanent disability benefits from BWC. He was sentenced to 23 days in jail, credited for time served, and ordered to pay BWC $6,614 in restitution.

 

  • James T. Wilson Jr., dba Performance Companies, of New Albany, Ohio, who pleaded guilty Nov. 19 to a second-degree misdemeanor count of failure to comply after BWC investigators found him operating Performance Companies LLC/Enviro Recycling Group without workers compensation coverage. Sentencing will occur after BWC finishes auditing his business records.

 

  • Dwayne Dotson of Cleveland pleaded guilty Nov. 14 to one count of workers compensation fraud after BWC found him working as a self-employed general contractor while receiving disability benefits. He was given three years of probation and ordered to pay BWC $14,453 in restitution.

 

  • Yue Liang, doing business as New Sheng Hung, of Cleveland pleaded guilty Nov. 13 to a first-degree misdemeanor charge of workers compensation fraud after he lapsed on a repayment plan related to his 2014 conviction on a similar charge. The food warehouse and market owner agreed to pay BWC $5,500 toward the balance owed to the agency and $2,000 in restitution. He was sentenced to one year of community control and ordered to bring his policy into compliance.

 

  • Douglas Rheaume of New Franklin, Ohio, pleaded guilty Nov. 13 to a fifth-degree felony count of workers compensation fraud after BWC found the former sheriff’s deputy operating a baseball training facility and working as an insurance agent while collecting BWC benefits. A judge sentenced Mr. Rheaume to a suspended nine-month prison term and ordered him to serve two years of probation. Additionally, he was ordered to pay $56,000 in restitution to BWC.

 

  • Stephanie Terry, doing business as Universal Fleet & Tire Service, of Cincinnati, pleaded guilty Nov. 5 to one count of obstructing official business after BWC found her operating her business with employees and lapsed BWC coverage. Two of her employees had filed injury claims while the coverage was lapsed. Ms. Terry paid $27,947 to BWC for the balance she owed the agency.