New York State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott announced that three people have been arrested in Jefferson County, New York, and are facing felony charges for alleged workers’ comp fraud.
Marleen Ayen of Main Street, Antwerp, who is 64, has been charged with fraudulent practices, first-degree falsifying business records, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property and third-degree grand larceny. Anthony Hull, Ayen’s fiancé, was charged with fraudulent practices, failure to secure the payment of compensation and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing.
Ronald Durand, 44, of State Route 411, Lafargeville, was charged with first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, third-degree grand larceny, third-degree insurance fraud and third-degree criminal possession of stolen property.
Durand began receiving workers’ comp benefits in March 2013 after he claimed to have injured his back while delivering jugs of water. The Inspector General alleges that, since the injury, Durand stated to his employers’ insurance carrier, medical providers and the State Workers’ Compensation Board that his injury made him unable to work.
However, surveillance footage allegedly recorded Durand repeatedly visiting the Watertown YMCA within months of his reported injury. It is claimed that Durand was seen performing military press ups with 180 pounds of weight, bench pressing 335 pounds, doing lateral pull downs, and various other gym exercises with large amounts of weight. Leahy said that Durand received nearly $3,200 in workers’ compensation benefits to which he was not entitled.
As part of a separate investigation, Ayen was found to be receiving workers’ comp benefits ever since claiming to have suffered a work-related injury in 2004. Ayen attested that she had not been working when receiving her benefits, but the Inspector General alleges she was working at Anthony Hull’s hardware store, Robbins Hardware, in Antwerp, and received close to $3,200 to which she was not entitled. It is also alleged that Hull had no workers’ comp coverage for his employees and claimed to have no employees.
The three are due to reappear in court in December and January.
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