Thomas Roy, 37 years of age was a corrections officer from December 2005 to May 2016 (officially). In January of 2016, Thomas Roy claimed to have injured his back while dealing with a fight between two inmates at the Worcester County House of Correction in West Boylston, Massachusetts.
He received an MRI which showed central spinal stenosis, fractures, and a disc protrusion. He saw several doctors that confirmed that he was indeed hurt. He then began receiving Temporary Total Incapacity and Injured by Prisoner worker’s compensation benefits.
This is Where Thomas Roy Went Wrong
Thomas Roy started a business two months prior to his injury which was named ASL Renovations.
The sheriff’s office hired private investigators to follow Roy after his injury.
On January 18, 2016, prosecutors indicated Roy was plowing snow for the city of Fitchburg and operating a backhoe which was just a few days after Roy reported his injury.
He was later allegedly caught by private investigators doing excavation work in Ashburnham while injured.
In April of 2016, there is allegedly video documentation of Roy performing physical labor, using a backhoe, climbing up and down a ladder and swinging a sledgehammer in a vigorous manner.
In April of 2016, the sheriff’s office requested Roy to returned to work on light duty. Light duty would include working in a control booth, answering phones, pushing buttons, etc.. Roy informed them that he was not ok to return to work because of the medication he was taking for his pain which and had doctor’s note as well.
On May 3, 2016, the sheriff’s office held a hearing and decided to fire Roy.
Roy then filed a grievance through the Union Lawyers.
In July of 2016, the sheriff’s office turned the matter (and I am sure the evidence) over to the attorney general’s office for investigation. Roy was indicted on charges of workers compensation fraud, a false claim to an employer and larceny over of $250.
In that same month apparently, lawyers for the jail and Roy’s union negotiated a settlement for the injury claim. The defense lawyers claimed at that time any criminal investigation would be dropped per their agreement.
The attorney general’s office informed the union lawyers that the sheriff’s office did not have the authority to make those types of promises and indicated the agreement did not contain any type of language to support their claim.
Roy was asking for all the charges to be dropped because he claimed this was the promise made but during the settlement process but a judge says the current charges won’t be dropped.
Authorities allege Mr. Roy fraudulently collected more than $15,895 in disability benefits between January and May 2016.
Roy was indicted on charges of workers compensation fraud, a false claim to an employer and larceny of $250.
The case against Roy is ongoing.
QUICK THOUGHT ON ROY’S FRAUD
I don’t know if it is ignorance or arrogance that brings people to believe that they will not get caught while engaging in fraud. It’s not that difficult to determine if someone has started a business. It is not that hard to hire a private investigator to follow someone around to determine if they are working while hurt.
There are consequences to fraud. Despite how many times people get caught and stories of fraud are reported in the news, people still think they can get away with it.
Roy didn’t appear to make any efforts to try and hide the fact that he was working and that was part of his downfall.
Sources:
Mass Live
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