Wyoming Department of Workforce Services release:
A Utah man accused of making or permitting false statements in order to defraud Wyoming Workers’ Compensation was found guilty of the charges earlier this month. Michael Pittman of Utah was accused of directing two of his Utah-based employees to file Workers’ Compensation claims in Wyoming, and to misrepresent their place of residency using a Torrington address.The two separate fraudulent Workers’ Compensation claims resulted in payments in excess of $62,000.
Michael Pittman entered a guilty plea to misdemeanor misrepresentation of false statements, in violation of W.S. 27-14-510(a)(i). Pittman’s sentence includes restitution of more than $20,000 and 180 days in jail, with 172 days suspended.
The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services strives to serve Wyoming employees and employers with a reliable and cost-effective Workers’ Compensation program. The majority of frauds perpetrated are against financial and government entities. Based on estimates by the National Insurance Crime Bureau, Workers’ Compensation fraud cases total more than $30 billion annually in the United States. Persons who suspect workers’ compensation fraud may contact the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services’ fraud hotline at 888-996-9226 or use the “Report a Fraud” link on our webpage, www.wyomingworkforce.