A Waterloo truck driver is accused of stealing upwards of $10,000 in workers compensation benefits following an investigation involving the New York State Inspector General’s Office.
Joshua Hernandes was charged with grand larceny; and last month had been charged with offering a false instrument for filing, grand larceny, and welfare fraud, as well, in a related investigation.
He had been arraigned on those charges last month in Waterloo Town Court.
The Inspector General’s Office says Hernandes applied for benefits after claiming a work-related injury in 2019. He then started working for a rideshare company, and was mowing lawns for pay without alerting any of the state agencies involved in his workers compensation case.
The IG’s Office says that those agencies including Department of Social Services, the State Workers’ Compensation Board, and other healthcare providers involved in his case.
IG Letizia Tagliaferro said cases like this damage the credibility of vital programs like the workers comp program.
“This individual’s actions alleged actions led him to wrongly benefit from critical state safety net programs. All New Yorkers must be up-front and truthful about their work status when receiving workers’ compensation benefits,” she said.
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