Police Officer Charged With Workers’ Comp Fraud

Many people are seriously injured in the workplace. They are too disabled to return to work for a while and need all the replacement benefits they can get. Then there are those who egregiously defraud the system, receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in benefits while they live an active lifestyle but refuse to return to work.

This is a case involving a police officer from California. She has been collecting workers’ compensation benefits since she suffered an injury while on duty in March 2022. But she’s only been pretending to be injured all this time. She never returned to work and still received benefits even though she was seen dancing at a music festival, skiing, and running a 5K marathon.

The former officer faces decades in prison for receiving fraudulent workers’ compensation payments. She allegedly collected more than $600,000, including medical bills, after telling the police department she could not return to work.

All of this was over a small abrasion to the police officer’s head. She went to the emergency room that same day. The doctor cleared her without any restrictions but she never returned to work. The officer proceeded to take a few days off work after that. She then told her department that she had been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury and she was placed on temporary disability.

She had collected compensation for her alleged injury since then. But the jig is up now. The officer was recently caught dancing and drinking at the Stagecoach country music festival. This forced the District Attorney’s office to launch an investigation.

People who knew that the woman was on disability benefits witnessed her engaging in an incredibly active lifestyle. She was running, skiing, going to Disneyland — things that a disabled person would generally not be able to physically do.

The officer’s stepfather is a licensed attorney practicing workers’ compensation defense for insurance carriers. He has been charged with aiding this fraud scheme. He was representing her at some of the meetings with the police department and he described what she was prohibited from doing. She was acting like she couldn’t look at a screen. Meanwhile, she was pursuing a master’s in organizational leadership, where it was done from a computer, completely online.

The officer has been charged with 15 felonies related to the fraud scheme, including making a fraudulent statement to obtain compensation and receiving insurance benefits fraudulently.

Her stepfather is also charged with conspiracy. If convicted, he faces eight years behind bars. If the officer is found guilty, she faces up to 22 years in prison.

Contact Us for More Information About Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Workers’ compensation fraud is a serious issue. Undeserving people often get large amounts, while those who truly suffer may be denied any sort of payment.

Your claim may be denied despite a serious injury. Get the help you need from a White Plains workers’ compensation lawyer from The Law Office of Michael Lawrence Varon. If you need help filing a claim or have been denied, we are a dedicated legal advocate who can assist you in getting the benefits you deserve. To schedule a consultation, call (914) 228-1770 or fill out the online form.

Source:

abc7.com/post/former-westminster-police-officer-nicole-brown-charged-stealing-thousands-workers-comp-faking-disability/16487626/