North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Policy Alert: Another Offender Hit with Harsh Penalties (Including Two Years Prison Time) for Federal Workers’ Comp Fraud
Those who follow North Carolina workers’ compensation policy debates often closely analyze minor court cases because these cases inform the broader discussion. To that end, we will review the implications of a recent US District Judge’s decision to sentence a former US Navy employee for workers’ comp fraud by sending him to prison for 21 months and compelling him to pay nearly $0.25 million in restitution to the Department of Labor.
Background
Mark Correnti worked for the US Navy for years as a civilian employee. In 1989, he hurt his back. Starting in the year 2000, he began collecting $2,000 a month from the Department of Labor in federal workers’ compensation for his back injury. These payments continued through 2008, during which time he accrued over $0.25 million.
According to prosecutors, Correnti violated the Federal Employees Compensation Act by starting up a small business, Safe & Sound Storage, and collecting income from this business. At seven different times, Correnti denied that he was bringing in money from this business. (These false statements allowed him to keep collecting federal workers’ comp.) After being caught, Correnti pled guilty last November to charges of making false statements, and the US District Judge sentenced him in late April to the harsh terms outlined above.
Now, obviously, most North Carolina workers’ compensation claimants work hard to understand their obligations and to avoid putting up red flags that might indicate fraud or non-compliance.
Nevertheless, claimant errors and omissions can torpedo otherwise valid North Carolina workers’ compensation claims. In other words, even if you did legitimately hurt your back lifting an object at work, for instance, your claim could be invalidated or downgraded if you don’t follow the correct protocol.
Fortunately, you don’t have to go through the rigmarole of applying for and securing workers’ comp benefits on your own. By connecting with a vetted, strategically focused, and experienced North Carolina workers’ compensation legal team, you can save yourself a lot of hassle and increase the likelihood of collecting the maximum benefits.
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