Rockland Man Accused Of Workers Comp Fraud

A Monsey man accused of collecting $7,581 in workers compensation that prosecutors say he was not entitled to has been arraigned, Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe announced Wednesday.

Jerry B. Cox, Jr., 54, has been arraigned on one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony, one count of Insurance Fraud in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony, two counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, class “E” Felonies, two counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, class “E” Felonies and two counts of Fraudulent Practices in Workers’ Compensation (a/k/a “Workers’ Comp Fraud”), class “E” Felonies.

“The defendant is accused of submitting false information with the New York State Insurance Fund for wages he claimed to lose after being unable to work following an on-the-job accident in 2015," Zugibe said. "Dishonest claims like those allegedly filed in this case take money out of the pockets of all New Yorkers.”

According to the charges, Cox was injured on Feb. 20, 2015 while working for Countywide Carting. As a result of his injury, he received Workers’ Compensation Benefits from the New York State Insurance Fund (“NYSIF”).

NYSIF is a self-supporting insurance carrier that competes with private insurers in the workers' compensation and disability benefits markets. Operating income is derived solely from insurance premiums and investments. NYSIF is the largest provider of workers' compensation insurance in New York State.

According to the charges, he continuously claimed he had not engaged in any work activity for any employer or in his own business from the date of the accident until July 2017.

On March 13, 2017 and May 12, 2017, Cox allegedly mailed to NYSIF “WA-1” Work Activity Reports, which prosecutors allege claim he had not engaged in work activity when he had, in fact, opened a meat
market in Central Nyack in March 2017 and performed rubbish removal services in Middletown, New York in April 2017.

The WA-1 Reports became part of the business records of NYSIF.

Because of Cox’s alleged misrepresentations in the Work Activity Reports, from March 13, 2017 through July 7, 2017, NYSIF paid $7581 in compensation benefits to which he was not entitled, Zugibe said.

Bail was set at $5,000 cash or $5,000 bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 14, 2018. Cox faces up to seven years in state prison. Senior Assistant District Attorney Robert Trudell is prosecuting the case.

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