N.Y. Man Charged in Work Comp Scam

The New York State Insurance Fund announced the arrest of a Buffalo area man who claimed he hurt his back lifting a water heater, but allegedly worked at his own landscaping and deck building business while collecting more than $34,000 in workers’ compensation benefits.

State Police arrested David J. Sawyer, 42, of Lockport, N.Y., Niagara County, in a case that had a potential value of more than $308,500 if his claim had continued to be paid by NYSIF.

Sawyer, who allegedly was self-employed as a landscaper and deck builder, faces five counts of offering a false instrument for filing and one count each of insurance fraud, grand larceny and perjury—all felonies.

Investigators said Sawyer was employed as a heating technician at Cecchini Plumbing and Heating in Cheektwaga, N.Y., when he said he injured his back while lifting a hot water heater on the job.

As a result of his claim, he began receiving workers’ comp benefits totaling $34,200, while he returned several signed documents to NYSIF, stating that he had not returned to any type of work.

Investigators found that Sawyer allegedly worked beyond the limits of his disability as a landscaper and deck builder in July and August 2006, and again in June and July 2007.

As a result of his arrest, NYSIF estimated the potential future savings on Sawyer’s claim to be $308,578.