Washington Metal Fabricator Faces Felony in $340K Workers’ Comp Scam

A Washington man who claimed he was too injured to work while operating a metal fabrication shop faces a felony charge in an alleged $340,000 workers’ compensation scam.

Travis Lee Johnson, 52, of Spokane Valley, pleaded not guilty recently to first-degree theft in Spokane County Superior Court.

Johnson is accused of fabricating and selling metal products for more than four years while collecting wage-replacement payments from the state fund set aside for injured workers. At the same time, he was reportedly telling the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries he couldn’t work due to an on-the-job injury.

An L&I investigation reportedly determined Johnson collected more than $340,000 in wage-replacement payments and $25,000 worth of vocational services from March 2018 through October 2022.

Johnson injured his lower back, right arm and hand when he slipped on ice while working as a truck driver in January 2018. Based partly on Johnson’s statements, his physician determined Johnson could not work because of the injury, according to charging papers.

The doctor’s determination was one of the requirements allowing him to receive payments to replace part of his lost wages. To keep receiving the benefits, Johnson submitted 57 official forms to L&I over more than four years, declaring he wasn’t working because of his on-the-job injury, charging papers said.

L&I began investigating Johnson in May 2022 after suspecting he was doing more physical activity than his doctor recommended.

The investigation reportedly found that two weeks after his injury, Johnson opened a business account with the Washington State Department of Revenue. Using two trade names, Bad Ass Fab and TLJ Fabrication, Johnson reportedly made and sold a variety of metal products, including mirror extensions built to attach to semi-trucks carrying wide load

An investigator video-recorded Johnson at his shop on multiple days manually lifting heavy items such as sofas and a pickup tailgate, using a hammer and other tools, driving a forklift, and performing other physical, work-related tasks.

After watching investigators’ surveillance videos, Johnson’s doctor said his patient had misrepresented his physical condition and abilities, according to charging papers. The doctor concluded that Johnson was actually capable of returning to work on Jan. 22, 2018, the day he opened his business account with the Revenue department.

The Washington State Attorney General’s Office is prosecuting the case based on the investigation. He is scheduled for trial on Nov.12.