W.Va. Workers’ Compensation Claimant Sentenced to Six Months for Fraud

West Virginia Insurance Commissioner, Jane L. Cline, has announced that Jason C. Davenport pleaded guilty last month to one misdemeanor offense of wrongfully seeking workers’ compensation benefits, and has been sentenced on that charge.

Davenport, of Strange Creek in Braxton County, was originally indicted by a Kanawha County Grand Jury on a felony charge for filing reports of work-related injuries in January of 2003 and May of 2004; however, an investigation revealed that he was not employed at the time. Davenport sought treatment for his injuries at Summersville Memorial Hospital in Nicholas County.

“Workers’ compensation provides medical, disability and rehabilitation benefits to workers who suffer injury or disease in the course of and resulting from their covered employment,” Cline said. “Persons who fraudulently secure benefits from the Workers’ Compensation Fund, or who file false reports or give false testimony are subject to criminal prosecution.”

Davenport, who is already serving time behind bars on unrelated charges, was sentenced December 1, 2005 to six months in jail. That sentence is running concurrently with the sentence now being served.

Investigation and prosecution in this case has been a joint effort with Nicholas County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Hudnall and the West Virginia Insurance Commission.

Topics Fraud Workers' Compensation Talent Virginia