A man from Salt Rock, West Virginia, is now facing multiple felony charges after authorities discovered he had spent more than $20,000 in workers’ compensation benefits that continued to be deposited into his deceased relative’s account.

The relative, a former Boilermakers Union worker, had been receiving disability payments since a workplace injury in 1987. Although he passed away in August 2021, the benefits kept coming for almost a year due to an administrative lapse.

The accused had been added to the deceased’s bank account more than a year before the death and continued to withdraw money after his relative’s passing.

Sedgwick, the state’s workers’ compensation administrator, unknowingly issued ten extra payments totaling $20,531.30 before realizing the mistake. In a recorded interview with a special agent, the man admitted to using the funds for personal expenses, including a tractor payment.

Prosecutors have charged him with fraudulent insurance acts, obtaining money by false pretenses, and engaging in fraudulent schemes.

Officials are now urging estate executors and family members to report any benefits received after a relative’s death. Failing to do so can lead to serious legal trouble and undermines the integrity of the workers’ compensation system.

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