SAN MATEO— On October 20,2020 the California Department of Insurance (CDI) announced that Michael Ray Williams, 37, of Daly City, was sentenced to 60 days in county jail and three years formal probation after pleading no contest to two felony counts of insurance fraud after illegally working for multiple employers while simultaneously collecting more than $85,000 in workers’ compensation benefits from two different insurers. Williams repaid the State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) $40,000 in restitution and was ordered to pay additional restitution to Travelers Insurance and his former employer.
In November 2014, Williams was working as an electrician when he sustained a work-related injury. He filed a workers’ compensation claim with SCIF and began collecting temporary workers’ compensation benefits.
An investigation by the CDI revealed that in March 2015, Williams began working for a different employer, yet continued to collect payments from SCIF. In May 2015, Williams sustained another work-related injury and filed another workers’ compensation claim, this time with Travelers Insurance. Between March 2015 and November 2016, Williams worked for and was paid by three different employers. At one point, Williams was collecting payments from SCIF and Travelers for two different work-related injuries, while continuing to work.
“Workers’ Compensation benefits are meant to help those employees who have been hurt on the job so that they can continue with a source of income while healing,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona. “I am grateful to CDI investigators and detectives who continue to identify, investigate and assist with the prosecution of those who commit insurance fraud.”
To fraudulently collect benefits, William misrepresented his level of injury, abilities, earnings and employment status to SCIF and medical providers, including providing false statements to his Qualified Medical Examiner to collect permanent disability benefits after the temporary benefits were exhausted.
Williams was also charged with grand theft for allegedly using his former employer’s credit card for personal expenses, including the purchase of an engagement ring.
This case was being prosecuted by the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.