Because of some savvy sleuthing by a special investigations unit, a man who defrauded the workers' compensation system for years will now pay nearly $60,000 in restitution.
Adam Osterman of Monroe, Ohio pleaded guilty on Feb. 13 in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas to one count of workers' compensation fraud, a fifth-degree felony for collecting workers' comp death benefits to which he was not entitled.
“As the son of a worker killed on the job, Mr. Osterman was eligible to receive death benefits up to age 25, if he enrolled at an accredited educational institution,” reports Ohio BWC Administrator/CEO Steve Buehrer. “Our investigators found that he submitted proof of enrollment at a community college in Dayton, but didn't attend classes or dropped the classes afterward. Thanks to the hard work of our special investigations department, the money Mr. Osterman improperly received will be returned to the BWC.”
Investigators opened a case after receiving an allegation that Osterman bragged about enrolling in classes and dropping them to receive BWC death benefits. They found that from 2010 to 2012, Osterman submitted documentation indicating that he was enrolled in community college classes, but either did not attend or dropped the classes altogether after submitting documentation to the BWC.
The court has placed Osterman was placed on community control for five years. Conditions of his community control include repaying $59,213.83 in restitution to the BWC, obtaining and maintaining employment, and paying court costs. Osterman will serve 8 months in prison if these terms are violated.
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