Columbus man sentenced for workers’ compensation fraud Print E-mail
Friday, Jan. 28, 2005

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) announced a Franklin County man has been sentenced for a misdemeanor charge of workers’ compensation fraud.

Salvador Arreguin was sentenced to 91 days jail, two years probation (one year reporting, one year non-reporting) and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $15,026.00 to BWC. Should Arreguin miss a reporting date or fails to make restitution payments, he will be sentenced to an additional 90 day jail term.

“Our team of fraud agents and community partners are working hard to catch individuals committing workers’ compensation fraud,” said James Conrad, BWC’s Administrator and CEO. “Time after time we successfully catch and prosecute these criminals, and by working together, we hope to deter fraudulent behavior in Ohio.”

BWC’s special investigations unit (SIU) learned of possible fraud by Arreguin from his previous employer. The employer suspected that Arreguin had not lost fingers from a workplace accident because his co-workers claimed he had missing fingers before the accident. The investigation confirmed Arreguin filed a false claim with BWC and was illegally collecting workers’ compensation benefits.

BWC awarded Arreguin temporary total disability benefits, living maintenance benefits, and four permanent partial disability awards for each digit that was allegedly amputated.

BWC’s SIU specializes in identifying and investigating workers’ compensation fraud. Since its establishment in 1993, the department has saved the agency over $820 million. In 2004, the department saved the agency approximately $126 million, the highest amount yet recorded.

For every dollar spent on special investigations, BWC’s SIU identifies more than $11 in savings. The average take in a fraudulent workers’ compensation case is $34,000.

To report workers’ compensation fraud, call 1-800-OHIOBWC or contact your local BWC customer service office and ask for the fraud department. You also can submit an allegation on BWC’s Web site at ohiobwc.com.

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Media contact: Jeremy Jackson, BWC, (614) 752-7558 or Emily Hicks, (614)728-6197.