Texas Workers’ Comp Fraudster Sentenced for Double Dipping

A Travis County, Texas district court has sentenced Gary Hunt of Austin on workers’ compensation fraud charges.

Hunt reported a job-related injury while working as a sales coach for Radiant Plumbing Service Inc., and claimed he was unable to work because of the injury.

Texas Mutual Insurance Co. began paying income benefits to him, but then discovered that he was working as a comfort consultant for another company. Investigators call this type of scam double dipping because the claimant collects benefits while gainfully employed.

The Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers’ Compensation prosecutor in Travis County presented the case for indictment. The court sentenced Hunt to a Class A misdemeanor with one-year deferred adjudication. He will pay $8,192 in restitution to Texas Mutual.

Texas law requires claimants to contact their workers’ comp carrier when they return to work.