Man Pleads Guilty To Insurance Fraud, Ordered To Pay Thousands In Restitution

Oneida County, NY (WIBX) - A Town of Paris man has to pay $42,600 in restitution, and serve a five year probation sentence, after he was found guilty of fraudulently collecting worker's compensation benefits.52-year-old Dennis J. Clark Sr., pleaded guilty to insurance fraud in Herkimer County Court on Monday.

Officials say Clark suffered an injury while working as a sanitation engineer for a local garbage collection company, and started receiving benefits in 2001. However, he went to work for another garbage collection company, while continuing to collect benefits. They say he fraudulently collected workers comp from 2005 to 2009 -- claiming headaches, neck pain and back problems prevented him from working.

Clark admitted that he lied when he submitted paper work, falsely stating he was not working because of job-related injuries. The case was investigated by the New York State Insurance Department's Frauds Bureau and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Carpenter. Clark was arraigned in the Town of Russia by State Police.