BWC News

Special investigations result in 166 indictments and 148 convictions

BWC's special investigations department continues to set records for cost savings realized and numbers of criminal prosecutions.

For fiscal 2003, BWC reported referring 306 subjects for possible criminal prosecution. BWC said it secured 166 criminal indictments and 148 convictions. The investigations and criminal prosecution referrals were focused in the areas of employer fraud, medical provider fraud and cyber-crime, among others. Employers were the subject of 85 percent of the investigations.

BWC said Operation Risky Business was one of the primary investigation programs. It focuses on businesses operating with either expired or no workers' compensation coverage, that continue to file claims; and on businesses with no coverage, where personnel forge BWC certificates to give the impression that their coverage is current.