Real Estate Agent Arrested for Workers’ Comp Fraud in New York

A Florida real estate agent has been arrested in New York for committing insurance fraud against the state’s largest workers’ comp insurer, the New York State Insurance Fund.

Ben Keskin, 52, of Florida, was arrested during an appearance at the Workers’ Compensation Board in Riverhead, New York earlier this month.

“Sometimes it takes an extra effort to make a fraud arrest and we will go the extra mile even if an investigation takes us well beyond New York’s borders,” said New York State Insurance Fund Chief Deputy Executive Director Francine James. “Leaving New York won’t get (violators) off the hook.”

In 2008 and 2009, Keskin was found to be selling real estate in Celebration, Florida and from 2007 to 2009 he submitted several forms to NYSIF indicating that he was not employed. Keskin has been a licensed real estate agent in Florida since 2006.

It is alleged that he defrauded NYSIF of $63,760.

Keskin sustained a work-related injury in 1995 while employed at an aircraft parts factory in Deer Park, New York. He was designated as permanently partially disabled and was receiving $400 weekly in workers’ compensation benefits.