Ohio
Attorney General Mike DeWine...
Husband-Wife
team convicted of BWC Fraud
(COLUMBUS,
Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Ohio Bureau of Workers'
Compensation Administrator/CEO Steve Buehrer announced today
the convictions
of a husband and wife who worked together to defraud the state of
nearly
$175,000.
Robin
Hammond pleaded guilty today to a felony charge of Workers'
Compensation Fraud,
while her husband Randy Hammond pleaded guilty to a felony Complicity
to Workers'
Compensation charge. Investigators said the couple, from
Galion, grossly
exaggerated injuries Robin Hammond allegedly suffered while working in
a
nursing home.
Investigators
said the couple claimed Robin Hammond was confined to a wheelchair
after
developing Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) from injuring her
shoulder.
The pair said the disease spread throughout her body, leaving the woman
unable
to use her arms and legs.
"This
couple had many people convinced. Doctors, family members,
and friends
all believed Robin Hammond was severely disabled," said Ohio Attorney
General Mike DeWine. "But evidence gathered by my office and
the
Bureau of Workers' Compensation found that it was all an elaborate act,
and we
are thankful to the person who tipped off investigators."
After
receiving the allegation that Robin Hammond had full use of her
extremities,
investigators with the Bureau of Workers' Compensation conducted
surveillance
on the couple. Video recordings showed Randy Hammond pushing
his wife in a
wheelchair to and from medical appointments. On most other
occasions,
however, investigators said Robin Hammond showed no signs of having
lost the
use of her limbs. Recordings showed her walking unassisted, driving,
climbing
stairs, holding and carrying items, and grocery shopping.
"This
troubling video shows the Hammonds' clear and blatant misuse of the
workers'
compensation system," said BWC Administrator/CEO Steve
Buehrer.
"While no fraud case is small, this one has to be among the more brazen
attempts to exaggerate an injury. I am pleased with the thorough work
of our
investigators and assistance from Attorney General DeWine in bringing
this case
to a close so we can put these funds to work assisting those who have
truly
been injured on the job."
After
investigators interviewed Robin Hammond about the allegations, the
couple
fled the state. Attorney General DeWine issued a nationwide
warrant for
their arrests, and they were later located in Hurricane,
Utah. The couple
was extradited back to Ohio to face charges.
After pleading guilty to the charges against them, a judge
ordered the
couple to repay the Bureau of Workers' Compensation $173,322.
Robin
Hammond was sentenced to one year in prison with possible judicial
release
after six months. Randy Hammond received five years of
community
control.
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