Each week we'll be surveying what the media, state agencies, insurance companies, and others report in terms of workers' comp fraud. Just like a police blotter, our workers' comp fraud blotter lists recent arrests, charges, and convictions.

Workers' Comp Fraud Blotter – October 2, 2009

Actor Sentenced on Workers’ Comp Fraud Charges (TX) – Sheran Keyton, an actor for the Dallas Children’s Theatre, was sentenced on workers’ comp fraud related charges. She claimed she was unable to work as a result of the injury, but Texas Mutual uncovered evidence that she was working in a similar job for another company while receiving income benefits. Read more

Fort Edward Man Charged With Workers’ Comp Fraud (NY) – Nelson L. Weller Jr. was arrested and charged with three felonies after he allegedly lied to receive workers compensation while employed. Read more

Lewis County Man Sentenced to 90 Days for Workers’ Comp Fraud (WA) – Joseph Woolf of Onalaska has been sentenced to 90 days in jail and 12 months of community supervision for illegally collecting workers’ compensation pension benefits while working on his family owned farm. Read more

Two West Covina Men Surrender on Workers’ Comp Premium Fraud Charges (CA) – Steven Antu and Pete Albano have each been charged with three felony counts of premium fraud. Antu and Albano, owners of United Security Agency (doing business as Patriot Protection Service), underreported their workers’ compensation payroll on their quarterly payroll reports from 2005 through 2007. SCIF alleged that the company misrepresented the amount of payroll purposely, in an attempt to reduce the cost of their insurance premiums. Read more

Long Island Construction Worker Charged With Workers’ Comp Fraud (NY) – Robin Ardiano, who claimed he had suffered a work-related injury to his foot in 2007, has been charged with fraudulent practices in violation of the Workers’ Compensation Law. An investigation determined he had been employed by an apartment complex since August, 2008, but during that period he said he was not working. Read more

Doctor Sentenced for Health Care Fraud (WV) – Dr. John C. Sharp, who was convicted last year on 20 counts of health care fraud, was sentenced to three years in a federal prison. Sharp billed Medicaid, Medicare, and workers' compensation for services he never performed. Read more

U.S. Dept. of Labor Records More Than $1.5 Million in Back Wages for 272 Contract Employees (D.C.) -  The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered more than $1.5 million in back wages for 272 employees of SI International SEIT Inc., a contractor for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Vermont Service Center. Following an investigation, the Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division cited the company for misclassifying employees and failing to pay them the proper prevailing wage rates for the type of work they were actually performing. Read more