Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas Blog

Culpeper preacher pleads guilty to workers’ comp fraud

If you had to describe a typical case of workers’ comp fraud, what would it look like?  Would it be a greedy big business owner trying to save a few dollars on insurance premiums?  Or, would it be a down-on-his-luck construction worker who faked an injury to make a little extra money for his family?  A recent case in Virginia just goes to show that stereotypes are unreliable when it comes to sniffing out fraud.

A Culpeper Virginia preacher has pleaded guilty to committing workers’ compensation fraud.  And this case isn’t simply a matter of a little misunderstanding – the preacher has been collecting workers’ comp checks since 2000, from two different insurance companies.  In addition, the preacher and his wife were found to have been manipulating the church pay roll, workers’ comp and their tax returns to benefit themselves financially.

What does this mean to Virginia workers who really need workers’ compensation benefits?  Fraud cases like this just drive up premiums for honest businesses and reduce the money and benefits available to help truly injured workers.  The preacher’s crime wasn’t just against the State; it was against all injured workers in Virginia who could have benefited from the money he so fraudulently received.

If you are having problems with your own workers’ compensation claim, please contact us immediately.  We’ll make sure you are treated fairly and get the help you need.

Labels: Virginia workers compensation workers compensation fraud