W. Va. Woman Sentenced in Comp Fraud Case

A Charleston woman has been sentenced to five years of supervised probation and ordered to pay full restitution to West Virginia’s Workers’ Compensation Commission after pleading guilty to conducting a fraudulent scheme.

Rebecca Lynn Carte pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor offense on May 3. A Kanawha County circuit judge sentenced Carte on July 26. Carte will pay $113.97 to the Commission each month until she reaches full restitution of $6,838.04.

A Kanawha County grand jury originally indicted Carte in November 2003 on four counts of forgery, four counts of uttering of bad check, four counts of making false statements, one count of computer fraud and one count of engaging in a fraudulent scheme.

She was accused of forging medical reports in order to lengthen her period of disability, thereby receiving temporary total disability and travel benefits from the Commission to which she was not entitled.

The Commission began an investigation in January 2003 based on a letter from a physician who had treated Carte for a back injury in February and March of 2002.

The physician’s office became concerned after receiving a “Notice of Benefits” from the Commission that reportedly indicated a longer benefit period than the doctor had recommended.