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For immediate release: March 21, 2012
Hamilton man caught on video committing workers' comp fraud
Jenkins was employed while collecting injured worker benefits
COLUMBUS - A Hamilton (Butler County) man who was caught on video working while receiving workers' compensation
benefits pleaded guilty to fraud last week in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. David Jenkins was ordered
to pay $7,000 in restitution to the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC), which discovered he was working
for a scrap materials processor while he was supposedly unable to work while recovering from a prior workplace
injury.
"Ohio's workers' compensation system exists so we can get injured workers healthy and back to work," said BWC
Administrator/CEO Steve Buehrer. "That's why it is so frustrating to see someone take advantage of the system
and diverting money that could be going towards the treatment of other injured workers."
BWC's special investigation department initiated an investigation after receiving an allegation that Jenkins
had been scrapping materials at a Hamilton business while on temporary total disability. The investigation and
surveillance video showed Jenkins was scrapping for a three-month period while he was prohibited to work. Records
indicated he was even scrapping on the same days he was examined by his physician for his work-related injury.
Jenkins entered his guilty plea March 13 and was ordered to repay BWC $6,463.25 in addition to $536.75 for
investigative costs. He also was sentenced to 180 days in prison suspended and five years of community control.
If Jenkins has any other convictions while on community control, his probation will be revoked, and he will serve
the prison time.
Surveillance video available.
To report suspected workers' compensation fraud, call 1-800-OHIOBWC,
visit ohiobwc.com, or visit
our FaceBook page.
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