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There’s no slowing down in the state of Ohio for WC convictions. A Franklin County grand jury has indicted 12 people for allegedly defrauding the BWC out of more than $150,000 in benefits.
Brothers who fraud together may go to jail together. So is the case of Tertius Ardister of Columbus and his brother Dwight Ardister of Phoenix, Arizona, (Formerly of Columbus). Tertius allegedly collected $54,285.20 in medical benefits and temporary disability benefits in three separate claims periods. Brother Dwight received $5,295 for a single claim. The latter faces up to two years in prison and a $6,000 fine and the former is looking at the possibility of six years in prison and $16,000 in fines.
Cincinnati resident Joan Donaldson allegedly collected $25,111.42 in temporary disability payments while she was working at another job. Others charged with working at the same time they were collecting benefits include William Dempsey of Felicity ($8,144.49), Carol Grubbs of Columbus ($4,391.77), John Parr of Wellsburg, West Virginia ($3,341.04), Jean Williams of Bradner ($13,500), Alan Manda of Canton ($14,292.99), Penny Widman-Harvey of Oregon ($4,060.92) and John Spencer of Ashtabula ($2,065.69). Jim Nelson of Mansfield has been indicted for allegedly filing a false claim to collect $11,792.87 in medical benefits, and Natalie Hill of Birmingham, Alabama, will be answering to charges that she cashed $7,343.96 of her deceased husband’s permanent disability checks.
The BWC uses investigators and sophisticated computer cross matches to identify those bilking the system. Fraud investigators work with claims representatives throughout Ohio, training them to recognize warning signs that signal fraud. Joint computer cross match programs with the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction have also located hundreds of workers’ compensation cheats.
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