New York Man's Fishy Story Results in Charges

A Chenango County, New York fish salesman received more than $60,000 in workers’ compensation benefits allegedly while running his own business in a case of workers’ comp fraud against the New York State Insurance Fund.

Edward Panus, 59, of Afton, N.Y., faces felony charges of violating the Workers’ Compensation Law, fraudulent practices and offering a false instrument for filing following his arrest by New York State Police on Feb. 4.

Investigators from NYSIF’s Division of Confidential Investigations said Panus was receiving workers’ comp payments for a work-related back injury that occurred in 1988.

The investigation, conducted in cooperation with the New York State Insurance Department Frauds Bureau and the Office of the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Inspector General, found that Panus was allegedly self-employed as the owner of Ponderosa Fish Farm while receiving benefits totaling $66,100.

NYSIF investigators said Panus had returned signed attestations to NYSIF that he had not returned to any form of work during this time.