A Cincinnati woman claiming to be permanently disabled from work owes the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) nearly $41,000 after her felony conviction Oct. 24 for workers’ compensation fraud. Michelle D. Smith, 57, pleaded guilty to the fifth-degree felony in the Franklin County Common Pleas Court after BWC discovered she owned and ran two businesses, Expression Unique LLC and Later in Life Brides, while collecting BWC benefits for workers deemed permanently and totally disabled.
“Our Special Investigations Department found records indicating Ms. Smith worked 35 hours per week at her businesses,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Stephanie McCloud. “I don’t think that meets anyone’s definition of ‘permanently and totally disabled,’ let alone BWC’s.”
Smith, who was injured on a job in 2000, declined through her attorney to be interviewed by BWC investigators about her case. Investigators gleaned much of their evidence from customer interviews and a catering contract Smith had with the city of Cincinnati.
A Franklin County judge ordered Smith to pay BWC $40,873 dollars in restitution and serve five years of non-reporting community control (probation). If she violates her probation, she must serve a year in prison.
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