Security guard to pay back over $6K to BWC

A Lucasville security guard, Rick Tackett, was sentenced to one month of nonreporting probation and ordered to pay restitution to the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) in the amount of $6,167.89 after pleading guilty to one count of workers’ compensation fraud, a first-degree misdemeanor, on Feb. 9, 2022. BWC’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) opened an investigation after its Intelligence Unit identified Rick Tackett potentially earned wages during periods he had received BWC disability benefits.

The investigation found Tackett knowingly and with fraudulent intent worked as a security guard for a hospital in southern Ohio while also receiving BWC disability benefits. Tackett paid the ordered restitution prior to his plea.

In other news:

Karen Fears
Working and Receiving
Euclid, Ohio

On Feb. 1, 2022, Karen Fears pleaded guilty to one count of workers’ compensation fraud, a first-degree misdemeanor. Fears was ordered credit for 12 days jail time served and to pay restitution to BWC in the amount of $5,843.60. Fears paid the restitution in full.

The Special Investigations Department opened an investigation after its Intelligence Unit identified Fears potentially earned wages during periods she had received BWC disability benefits. The investigation found Fears knowingly and with fraudulent intent worked while simultaneously collecting BWC disability benefits to which she was not entitled.

Della Wade
Working and Receiving
Cleveland, Ohio

On Feb. 2, 2022, Della Wade pleaded guilty to one count of workers’ compensation fraud, a first-degree misdemeanor. Wade was sentenced to 90 days of jail, suspended for the payment of restitution in the amount of $6,726.51. Wade paid the restitution in full.
The Special Investigations Department opened an investigation after its Intelligence Unit identified Wade potentially earned wages during periods she received BWC disability benefits. The Northeast Region SIU’s investigation found Wade was working for a restaurant company while concurrently collecting BWC disability benefits. The investigation identified that Wade worked and received benefits between May and November 2019.