A Catskill man who hurt his ankles while working as a corrections officer in Coxsackie was collecting workers compensation insurance for the injury while also working as a part-time police officer in Cairo, the New York State Insurance Department reported yesterday. Twenty-six-year-old Kevin Schwebke allegedly collected $34,000 in benefits, which could mean 7 years in prison. From a NYSID press release:
OFFICER ARRESTED FOR WORKERS’ COMPENSATION FRAUD
A Greene County man employed as a corrections officer and part-time police officer has been arrested for fraudulently accepting $34,000 in workers’ compensation benefits.
The New York State Insurance Department reported that Kevin Schwebke, 26, of First Street, Catskill, was arrested Wednesday on a felony charge of workers’ compensation fraud.
Schwebke started collecting workers’ compensation benefits in 2009 after suffering job-related ankle injuries while working as a corrections officer at the Coxsackie Correctional Facility. During the same time period, he was employed as a part-time police officer with the Town of Cairo Police Department.
Schwebke is accused of accepting workers’ compensation lost wage benefits and falsely stating that his physical condition left him unable to work while he continued working as a police officer. The police department was unaware he was collecting the benefits.
If he is convicted, Schwebke could be sentenced to up to seven years in prison. He was released pending action in Albany County Court.
The Insurance Department’s Frauds Bureau investigated the case with the assistance of the New York State Department of Corrections, the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board Office of the Inspector General and the New York State Insurance Fund.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Benjamin Clark.
