February 11, 2010

Ritzville man pleads guilty to fraud, to repay $47,487

TUMWATER – A Ritzville man pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property in connection with illegally collecting workers’ compensation benefits while collecting wages from a nursing home managed by his wife.

Ronald E. Newton was ordered to repay the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) $47,487 for illegally collecting workers’ comp benefits from January 2005 through December 2006. He was injured in 2004 while working as a truck driver for a Spokane trucking company.

“We aggressively go after people suspected of stealing from workers’ comp, and those who are caught will pay,” said Carl Hammersburg, manager of L&I’s Fraud Prevention and Compliance Program.

To report fraud, or for more information about how to combat fraud and abuse, call 1-888-811-5974 or go to http://www.Fraud.Lni.wa.gov.