July 18, 2002
Grays Harbor man pleads guilty of L&I fraud
TUMWATER - A 31-year-old Grays Harbor County man has pled guilty to a felony charge of first-degree theft and for fraudulently receiving workers' compensation benefits.
A Grays Harbor County Superior Court judge sentenced Sherwin D. Phillips to 30 days in jail, which was converted to 240 hours of community service. In addition, Phillips was fined $1,110 and ordered to pay $9,545.76 in restitution to the Department of Labor & Industries.
Phillips was receiving workers' compensation disability benefits for an injury he sustained in March 2000 while working as a technician for a pest-control company in Olympia.
An investigation showed that while Phillips was receiving disability benefits from that injury he worked at his own pest-control business, Advance Pest Prevention, in Aberdeen. Phillips did not inform the department that he had gone back to work.
Anyone who suspects fraudulent activity may report it anonymously to L&I by calling 360-902-5153 or online at fraud.lni.wa.gov.
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