HARRISBURG-Attorney General Tom Corbett announced that agents from the Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud Section have filed criminal charges against a Bucks County man accused of collecting more than $41,000 in worker’s compensation benefits after falsely claiming that an injury prevented him from working.
Corbett identified the defendant as Adam Pelkowski, 45, Bensalem.
Corbett said that between August 2004 and October 2005, Pelkowski collected $41,860 in workers’ compensation benefits after claiming that an August 10, 2004 work-related leg injury prevented him from working. Pelkowski had been employed as a dry-wall taper and finisher for Toltech Inc., of Bensalem.
According to the criminal complaint, at the same time that Pelkowski was collecting worker’s compensation benefits, claiming that he was unable to work, he earned more than $33,000 working as a dry-wall taper and finisher for different company. Pelkowski allegedly switched jobs less than three weeks after his August 2004 injury, and continued working for 14 months while also collecting weekly worker’s compensation payments.
Corbett said that on two occasions, in January 2005 and May 2005, Pelkowski was asked to complete “Verification of Employment” forms in order to continue receiving his worker’s compensation payments. On those forms, Pelkowski was asked “are you now employed?” and “have you ever been employed or self-employed at any time while receiving worker’s compensation benefits?” Pelkowski answered “no” to those questions on both occasions.
Pelkowski is charged with one count of worker’s compensation fraud and one count of theft by deception. Both charges are third degree felonies and carry maximum penalties of seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
Pelkowski was arraigned before Bensalem Magisterial District Judge Ruth Dietrich and released on $50,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 13.
The case will be prosecuted in Bucks County by Deputy Attorney General Michele Walsh of the Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud Section in Norristown.
