BUSY BEAVER INDICTED

A Stephens County, Texas grand jury has indicted Eric Beaver on felony charges stemming from workers’ compensation fraud. Beaver allegedly took $4,686.98 in temporary income benefits (TIBs) from Texas Mutual Insurance Company after his eligibility for the benefits expired. He reportedly suffered an on-the-job injury while working for Orbit Plastic Pipe Inc., and started collecting TIB checks from Texas Mutual Insurance Co. when his doctor declared him unable to return to work. Beaver became employed at another company, but hid that fact from Texas Mutual Insurance and continued collecting TIBs. After discovering Beaver’s true employment status, Texas Mutual investigators presented a criminal case to District Attorney Stephen Bristow on February 22, alleging that Beaver had violated Section 418.001 of the Texas Labor Code. The Stephens County Grand Jury met on April 17, and returned an indictment charging Beaver with “fraudulently obtaining workers’ compensation insurance benefits,” a state jail felony.