Attorney General's News Release

March 14, 1996

Steelville man pleads guilty to fraudulently collecting worker's comp by submitting phony mileage claims

Jefferson City, Mo. — A Steelville man who submitted false mileage claims in order to collect workers' compensation benefits pleaded guilty March 8 to workers' compensation fraud in Crawford County Circuit Court. The charge was brought by the Workers' Compensation Unit of Attorney General Jay Nixon's office.

Bruce Kennedy was placed on two years' probation and ordered to pay back $550.40 to his insurance company for mileage claims he submitted but did not travel. The insurance company was reimbursing Kennedy for his mileage in traveling to Rolla for therapy for an on-the-job injury. Kennedy stopped attending the therapy, but continued to submit claims for the mileage expense to his insurance carrier.

“Obtaining workers' compensation benefits under false pretenses takes money out of the pockets of the honest employers and workers of this state,” Nixon said. “We will aggressively prosecute these types of cases to show that you can't get easy money by trying to defraud the system.”

Kennedy faces up to a year in jail and $11,000 in fines if he violates the terms of his probation.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818