A New York State fish salesman faces felony charges for alleged workers' compensation fraud against the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF).

Edward Panus, 59, of Afton, N.Y., faces felony charges of violating the workers' compensation law, fraudulent practices, and offering a false instrument for filing following his arrest by police in February. The charges revealed that Panus received more than $60,000 in workers' compensation benefits allegedly while running his own business.

Investigators said that Panus was receiving workers' compensation payments for a work-related back injury that occurred in 1988. In actuality, Panus was allegedly self-employed as the owner of Ponderosa Fish Farm while receiving benefits. NYSIF investigators said that Panus had returned signed attestations them saying that he had not returned to any form of work during this 20-year period.