Self-Employed Plumber Nabbed For Scam
Posted on Friday, 30 of January , 2009 at 11:38 am
BINGHAMTON—A Binghamton man has been arrested by Broome County Sheriff’s Department deputies and charged with grand larceny, offering a false instrument for filing and violation of the Workers’ Compensation Law.
Officials claim that Kent Hogdin, 57, of Binghamton was receiving workers’ compensation payments for a back injury he received in 2005 while working for Zabadal Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning.
While receiving benefits, Hogdin attested in signed statements that he had not returned to any form of work. An investigation carried out by the New York State Insurance Fund’s Division of Confidential Investigations revealed that Hogdin, in fact, was self-employed repairing small engine machinery.
“Too many people attempt to cover up work activity thinking they can beat the system, but the system is getting much better at identifying the cheats and bringing them to justice,” said NYSIF Executive Director David P. Wehner. “We will keep applying the pressure and hopefully the message is getting through.”
Based on the ongoing fraud, NYSIF paid the claimant more than $21,000 to which he was not entitled.
The investigation was carried out in cooperation with the New York State Insurance Department’s Frauds Bureau, the Workers’ Compensation Board Fraud Inspector General and the Broome County Sheriff’s Department. 1-30-09
Category: Business, Courts, Crime, Disabled, Government, Health, Insurance, Labor, New York State
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