Airport Worker Collected $5,500 a Month in Injury Benefits While Doing Labor

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 | 0

A Tampa-area man was sentenced to restitution and six months of home detention after pleading guilty to working while collecting federal workers' compensation benefits and lying about it.

Gary Rochevot, 72, was injured while working at the Orlando International Airport in 2004. Since then, he had collected about $5,500 in monthly benefits, according to a bulletin from the U.S. Attorney's office in Tampa.

Rochevot completed a number of forms through the years that stated he was not working, but an investigation showed that he had done volunteer work, yard work, car repairs and heavy lifting. 

He must pay $123,435 in restitution, a judge ordered.

This case was investigated by the Transportation Security Administration and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay G. Trezevant.