Ohio Business Owner Sentenced for Workers’ Comp Fraud

A Cleveland, Ohio, man has been sentenced after a jury convicted him of failing to maintain workers’ compensation coverage for his business.

Donald L. “Donnie” Schilling, owner of Cleveland Tire & Wheel, was found to be concealing employee payroll figures so he could operate his business without workers’ compensation coverage, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) reported.

Schilling is currently on probation from a drug conviction in Texas and this violation of his probation could result in a sentence there of up to 99 years of incarceration.

BWC’s Special Investigations Department (SID) Employer Fraud Team investigated Schilling after receiving information that he was operating his business without coverage. Schilling refused to cooperate. The Employer Fraud Team put Schilling on notice but he still failed to obtain a policy while continuing to operate his business and conceal his employee payroll. In addition, three workers’ comp claims were filed by employees of Cleveland Tire & Wheel costing the State Insurance Fund more than $30,000.

Schilling was found guilty of one felony count of workers’ compensation fraud. He was sentenced to 120 days in jail and will be under the supervision of community control for the next two years. In addition, Schilling will be required to enter into a payment plan with BWC to pay $61,101.59 in overdue premiums.

Topics Fraud Workers' Compensation Ohio