Local Woman Convicted Of Insurance Fraud
Sonora, CA – A local woman has been convicted of workers’ compensation insurance fraud.
Employed as a personal care assistant provider for the Tuolumne County Social Services Department, Janice Richardson, in June plead no contest to charges she faked the extent of her injuries she received after a vehicle collision while on the job. Tuolumne County District Attorney’s office relays that the charges stemmed from a workers’ compensation injury claim she filed in April of 2014, which resulted in medical treatment and benefits. The exact details surrounding the crash were not disclosed by the D.A.’s office.
Additionally, no details were given as to what prompted an investigation into her claim; except that it was later determined that Richardson allegedly lied in a deposition to the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. D.A. officials explain that Richardson “misrepresented facts as it related to her physical abilities and limitations associated with her injury” in supporting her claim for worker’s compensation.
After her conviction, Richardson was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and $27,500.00 in restitution to repay the benefits she received and investigation costs. Probe Information Services, the Tuolumne County District Attorney’s Office and the Amador County District Attorney’s Workers’ Compensation Fraud Unit jointly investigated the case. That unit services Amador, Tuolumne, Stanislaus and Calaveras Counties through a California Department of Insurance grant.
Workers’ compensation fraud can be reported it to the California Department of Insurance Fraud Hotline at (916) 854-5700 or the Amador County District Attorney’s Office at (209) 223-6444.
