L.A. Man Pleads No Contest to Fraud

A Los Angeles man pleaded no contest to two felony counts of insurance fraud after CDI Fraud investigators determined that he misrepresented injuries allegedly sustained in his workplace.

Tommie Lee Robinson, 55, claimed he injured himself while moving materials in his position as a Quality Control Inspector at Cherokee International, a manufacturing company in Irvine, Calif. Robinson was sentenced on Sept. 17 in Orange County Superior Court to 90 days in jail and ordered to pay $11,562 in restitution, $200 in fines, and serve three years formal probation.

Investigators found that in April 1998 Robinson reported the injury to his supervisor and was referred to a physician for evaluation and treatment. Robinson returned to modified work duties, but continued to complain of pain, eventually requiring back surgery in 2001. During his deposition on the injury Robinson stated that he always used his cane to walk. However, a two-month hidden videotape investigation in 2001 reportedly revealed that Robinson walked without a cane and without any signs of discomfort.

The treating physician’s original diagnosis of a 100 percent disability rating would have provided Robinson a payment of $20,000 per year for the remainder of his life and would have cost the insurance company approximately $250,000. After reviewing the videotape, the physician changed Robinson’s disability rating to 24 percent, and Robinson settled his injury claim at a total cost of $14,500.