PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY MAN SENTENCED FOR COLLECTING DISABILITY WHILE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that Jimmy Ray Osborn, 56, of Accokeek, Maryland was sentenced in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County following his conviction last month for felony insurance fraud. The conviction follows a joint investigation conducted by the Insurance Fraud Division of the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Office of the Attorney General. The Honorable Ronald D. Schiff sentenced Mr. Osborn to three years’ incarceration, suspended that sentence and placed him on two years’ probation.

In a statement of charges presented by the prosecutor at the time of his guilty plea, the court learned that Mr. Osborn sustained an injury while employed by Facchina Construction Company. As a result, from April of 2001 through June of 2003, he received disability benefits of $573.00 per week and accepted vocational placement services for the purpose of job placement. Investigation revealed, however, that during this period he was gainfully employed by Vitale & Sons Plumbing and Heating Company. Consequently, he fraudulently received more than $34,000.00 in disability benefits to which h e was not entitled.

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