State Employee Accused Of Workers' Compensation Fraud: Officials

A 58-year-old Oakville woman, who works for the state Department of Developmental Services, was arrested Tuesday on charges that she fraudulently collected more than $4,000 in Workers’ Compensation benefits, according to authorities.

Elizabeth Torres was arrested by Inspectors from the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Control Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney on a warrant charging her with first-degree larceny in by defrauding a public community and fraudulent claim or receipt of benefits.

The investigation was initiated by a complaint from Gallagher Bassett Services, which administers the Workers’ Compensation insurance program for state employees, according to court documents.

Torres is accused of failing to report income she received while collecting Workers’ Compensation benefits as a result of an injury she reported suffering while working at a DDS group home in Newington.

As a result, Torres collected $4,292 in benefits to which she was not entitled from July 2016 to December 2017, the warrant states.

Torres was released on a written promise to appear in Hartford Superior Court, G.A. No. 14, on Aug. 7. The charges are merely accusations and she is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case will be prosecuted by the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Control Unit.