Air marshal can’t fight way out of paying back disability

A former federal air marshal was unable to fight his way out of paying back nearly $250,000 in disability benefits after it was revealed he was running a martial arts studio while collecting workers compensation.

Black Belt Joseph Watterson was ordered to repay the federal government $241,118 he collected in disability payments from May 2016 to March 2019 — while he taught Jiu Jitsu at his Middletown, Rhode Island-based martial arts studio, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement Friday.

Mr. Watterson pleaded guilty to false statement to obtain federal workers compensation benefits and has been ordered to pay restitution and sentenced to two years’ probation.