| Subject: Cloutier can't run from this. |
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Martha
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Date Posted: 08:12:12 09/25/10 Sat
Freetown man indicted on workers compensation fraud allegation.By Staff reports
GateHouse News Service
Posted Sep 24, 2010 @ 11:34 AM
FREETOWN — A Freetown man has been indicted in Suffolk County on charges of fraudulently collecting workers compensation.
John Cloutier, 45, of Freetown, was indicted by a Suffolk County grand jury Thursday on a charge of workers’ compensation fraud. A former Department of Correction officer, Cloutier is accused of participating in a marathon and half-marathon while collecting workers’ compensation benefits. Cloutier is expected to be arraigned on the charge in Suffolk Superior Court on October 26.
“Our office alleges that Mr. Cloutier seriously violated the public’s trust by knowingly faking an injury for a long period of time in order to receive benefits he was not entitled to, all on the taxpayers’ dime,” Attorney General Martha Coakley said in statement. “Mr. Cloutier competed in a marathon and half-marathons while claiming to be on disability.”
According to the Attorney General’s office, Cloutier suffered a work-related injury in July 2008 and began collecting workers’ compensation benefits, continuing to March 2010. During that time, Cloutier allegedly told medical providers that he could neither stand for long periods of time or do any strenuous activities that could potentially aggravate his injury. Based on these statements, some medical providers determined Cloutier could not return to work.
Investigators learned through an anonymous tip that in January 2009 Cloutier ran in, and completed, two races at Disney World in Florida: a half-marathon on Jan. 10, 2009, followed by a full marathon the next day. Cloutier also completed another half-marathon in September 2009. Authorities allege that Cloutier never disclosed to the DOC or any of his treating medical providers that he ran in any of these races, trained for these races, or, for that matter, engaged in any kind of strenuous exercise.
In January 2010, a hearing was held before a workers’ compensation judge at the Department of Industrial Accidents to decide whether Cloutier had been disabled at any time after January 10, 2009. At that time the judge was presented with evidence which showed Cloutier’s participation in a marathon and half-marathons. In March 2010, the judge determined that Cloutier was not eligible for benefits any time after his first January 2009 road race. Investigators calculated that Cloutier fraudulently collected over $56,000 from the commonwealth after January 2009. The matter was then referred to the Attorney General’s office for prosecution.
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