W.H. man charged with workers' comp fraud

West Hempstead resident Sean Tolliver was arrested on Oct. 22 for workers' compensation fraud after a joint investigation conducted by New York state and Nassau County officials revealed that Tolliver, along with six other residents, stole more than $50,000 collectively in workers' compensation and insurance benefits from the county.

“These seven people have stolen money out of our hands and put it in their own wallets,” Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said in a statement. “We will be seeking full restitution for the money these defendants stole from honest taxpayers. With the help of our fellow agencies, we will aggressively prosecute any individual who abuses a system designed to provide for people with real injuries and real needs.”

According to county officials, Tolliver, 50, a social worker at the county's Juvenile Detention Center, sustained a head injury in September 2008 after an incident with a resident at the facility, but chose not to return to work after he was released from the hospital even though doctors told him he could. County officials said Tolliver continued to collect pay and even testified in a Workers' Compensation Board hearing that the injury required him to use a cane and sling.

But surveillance cameras from the investigation showed Tolliver jogging from his West Hempstead home to a Rockville Centre gym, lifting weights and jogging back home on a daily basis. County officials said Tolliver fraudulently collected more than $17,000 from the county.

He was charged with third degree grand larceny and first degree perjury. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison. He is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 9.