Wethersfield Woman Charged with Workers’ Comp Fraud, Perjury

WETHERSFIELD, CT — A Wethersfield woman was has been charged with workers’ compensation fraud after an investigation found her running her own business while collecting benefits for an injury that supposedly rendered her unable to work at her teaching job, state Department of Justice officials said Monday.

Samantha Jenkins, 31, of Wethersfield, was arrested Monday by inspectors from the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney on a warrant charging her with one count of fraudulent claim or receipt of benefits and one count of perjury.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Jenkins reported an on-the-job injury in July 2017 while working as an applied behavior analysis instructor at the EastConn Regional Education Center. She subsequently collected $8,065 in Workers’ Compensation benefits and another $3,364 in salary while "supposedly unable to work," the warrant states.

Surveillance conducted multiple times in November and December of 2017 showed Jenkins running her own business, Art Splash Smoothies, while collecting benefits, the warrant states.

In January 2018, she was "deposed regarding her situation" and, under oath, stated she was not working and did not own a business, according to the warrant.

Jenkins was released on a promise to appear in Middletown Superior Court on May 17.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

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