Man Sentenced For Worker’s Comp Fraud
By Donna Willis
Web Content Coordinator
Published: May 12, 2009
RICHLAND COUNTY, Ohio—A Mansfield man was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to fraud.
Roger Roseberry pleaded guilty to fraud following an investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) Special Investigations Department (SID).
A Richland County Common Pleas Court judge ordered Roseberry to pay at least $500 per month to BWC.
He will face incarceration for six years if he fails to pay.
He also was sentenced to five years of community control.
Roseberry was collecting permanent disability from the BWC for an injury that included total loss of use of his right arm and both legs due to Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, also known as RSD.
A BWC attorney referred the settlement to the SID for review after Roseberry submitted an application for a lump sum settlement in the amount of $617,000.
The SID’s investigation revealed Roseberry did have use of both his legs as well as his right arm.
“Injured worker fraud draws resources from workers who have legitimately been injured on the job, and unfairly raises premiums for employers who are working to maintain safe workplaces,” said SID Director Tom Wersell. “Careful monitoring of claims helps us identify and prosecute those who abuse the system.”
Special agents conducted several days of surveillance and observed Roseberry operating a motor vehicle, driving long distances, walking, opening and closing doors, holding items and writing. The videos were later shown to Roseberry’s treating physicians who indicated the video contradicted the conditions allowed in his workers’ compensation claim. Upon completion of the investigation, the settlement was rejected by the BWC and Roseberry was referred for prosecution.
Roseberry admitted to fraud related to collecting permanent total disability benefits and his request for the lump-sum settlement.
On March 30, 2009, Roseberry pleaded guilty in Richland County Common Pleas Court to one count of workers’ compensation fraud, a third degree felony and one count of theft, a fourth degree felony. As part of the plea agreement, Roseberry has agreed to repay $23,536.92 in restitution and $7,000 in investigative costs.
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Stories like this makes me so frustrated!! It makes it more difficult for those of us who are "REALLY" having pain from RSD to get proper treatment!!
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