David Howke recently pleaded guilty to criminal theft in Montana after he fraudulently collected two years’ worth of workers’ compensation benefits. Along with a five-year suspended sentence, Mr. Howke will have to pay $27,478 back to the state of Montana.
Mr. Howke filed a claim in 2012 based on his assertion that a work-related injury prevented him from working his construction job. But the state received a tip in November 2014 that he was working again and bragging about playing thirty-six holes of golf every day.
As Attorney General Tim Fox stated: “Workers’ compensation fraud is a drain on Montana businesses, and anytime we can mitigate this deceitful behavior, we’re reducing upward pressure on the costs shouldered by businesses in our state.”