Welcome to the Business Journal Archives
Search for articles below, or continue to the all new BusinessJournalDaily.com now.
Search
Youngstown Man Sentenced for Workers' Comp Fraud
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation today announced a Mahoning County man has been sentenced from defrauding the state program. Joseph Lesniewski was sentenced to five years probation, ordered to pay $97,457.28 in restitution and investigative costs. Lesniewski suffered injuries to his back and hip in July 1998 while working for Pennzoil Co. as a sales representative. BWC awarded Lesniewski temporary benefits to compensate for his injuries.But an automated detection and intelligence team did a cross match with the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services and alerted BWC's special investigations unit that Lesniewski was receiving wages while collecting workers' compensation benefits. From February 2000 through April 2002, the cross-match revealed, Lesniewski received wages from seven different companies.Since the bureau's investigative unit was established in 1993, it has saved the agency more than $820 million. In 2004, the department saved the agency approximately $126 million, the highest annual savings to date, according to James Conrad, BWC administrator and chief executive officer. "Each day, BWC and its partners work to ensure the integrity of the system and protect the injured workers we serve by seeking out those who refuse to play by the rules," Conrad said.For every dollar spent on special investigations, the unit identifies more than $11 in savings, he continued. The average take in a fraudulent workers' compensation case is $34,000, he said.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 www.ohiobwc.com. "