Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office Awarded Grant to Investigate and Prosecute Workers’ Compensation Fraud

The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office was recently awarded a grant from the California Department of Insurance to be used for the investigation and prosecution of Workers’ Compensation Insurance fraud. The grant is for $339,173.00 for the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year.  Funding for the grant comes from California employers who are legally required to be insured or self-insured. Workers’ Compensation Fraud is investigated and prosecuted by the Environmental and Consumer Law Division of the District Attorney’s Office.

District Attorney Carla Rodriguez said, “My office is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting workers’ compensation fraud, and to maintaining a level playing field for both employees and employers.”

Workers' compensation insurance fraud occurs in simple and complex schemes that often require difficult and lengthy investigations. Employees may exaggerate or even fabricate injuries. At the other end of the spectrum, white-collar criminals, including doctors and lawyers, entice, pay, and conspire with others to defraud the system by creating false or exaggerated claims, over treating, and over prescribing harmful and addictive drugs. Also, employers may ask injured workers’ not to file legitimate claims. Insurance companies pick up the tab, passing the cost onto policyholders, taxpayers, and the public.

The grant will focus on combating fraud that continues to increase costs on the workers compensation system, including medical provider insurance fraud, employer premium fraud, and claimant fraud. Additionally, the District Attorney’s Office will be conducting outreach to local businesses and community members, including diverse and underserved communities on how to prevent and report insurance fraud. 

To report suspected workers’ compensation insurance fraud or if you have questions, you can contact the California Department of Insurance (Phone 1-800-927-4357 or http://www.insurance.ca.gov/) or the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office (Phone 707-565-2558 or https://da.sonomacounty.ca.gov/divisions/insurance-fraud-unit.)