A 28-year-old Plumber has now been charged with seven felonies for insurance fraud alleged to have been perpetrated during his workers’ compensation claim.
Claiming to strain his back while pulling a 75-gallon water heater from his vehicle, this individual received some initial medical care and took time off to recover. Over the next several months, this plumber reported various ailments, although diagnostic testing found no clear cause for his ongoing discomfort. Three months later, he claimed to reinjure his back and the complaints significantly increased as a result. These new complaints led to more treatment aimed at alleviating his pain.
The Complaints Don’t Add Up
Concerned about some inconsistencies in his complaints, along with insights that this plumber may enjoy spending his downtime off-roading, ICW Group dispatched surveillance to verify the legitimacy of his ongoing ailments. Surveillance painted a starkly different picture of a healthy and active young man. While telling his doctors that extreme pain prohibited him from working, surveillance captured him engaged in multiple physical activities, including lifting and pulling a trailer loaded with an ATV. Additionally, an undisclosed second job was revealed via investigative surveillance efforts.
ICW Group’s Special Investigations Unit referred the matter to the California Department of Insurance and San Diego County District Attorney’s Office. These law enforcement entities investigated the matter and filed criminal charges. ICW Group will continue to cooperate with law enforcement as this matter progresses through the criminal justice system.
