Women Charged with Filing Multiple Workers’ Comp Claims

 Posted on November 19, 2012 in Criminal Defense

The Illinois Attorney General’s office has announced the arrest of a McHenry woman for allegedly defrauding several suburban employers out of nearly $90,000 in workers’ compensation payments. Tracy Williams, 43, has been charged with workers’ compensation fraud, aggravated fraud, insurance fraud and perjury. She is being held on $90,000 bond.

According to a press release issued by Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Williams would create phony work-related injuries and then file claims for worker’s compensation insurance. Three of the companies she is accused of defrauding are Mastertek Auto Repair, in Algonquin;Thornton's Gas Station and Store, inEast Dundee; and Johnson Controls Inc., inGeneva. In one of the alleged phony injury claims, Williams said that her shoulder was injured when she lied about being punched by a customer.

An investigation was originally initiated by the Illinois Department of Insurance Workers& Compensation Fraud Unit, who then referred the case to the Attorney General’s office. The complaint accuses Williams of filing four compensation claims over a three year period. The claims resulted in the collection of thousands of dollars in insurance funds. Officials did not release the total amount of insurance benefits that Williams is accused of fraudulently collecting.

In a statement from Department of Insurance Workers& Compensation Fraud Unit, Director Andrew Boron calls classified workers’ compensation fraud a serious crime. He also added, “The Department of Insurance Workers& Compensation Fraud Unit is dedicated to rooting out the theft of benefits. We are pleased to work with the Attorney General to pursue those who defraud the system, hurting taxpayers and beneficiaries alike”

Filing false workers’ compensation claims is a Class 4 felony in Illinois. If you’ve been accused of this or any other serious crime, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney to represent you. Contact a DuPage County attorney today to make sure your rights are protected.