April 12, 2017
Pablo Francisco Castillo Murguia of Auburn, Wash., was sentenced in Thurston County on April 5 for felony first-degree theft. Superior Court Judge Chris Lanese also ordered the 40-year-old to repay $114,752 for cash benefits along with medical and vocational services he wrongfully received over more than five years.
The Washington Attorney General prosecuted the case based on an investigation by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). L&I administers the state system that helps injured workers heal and return to work.
Castillo Murguia originally pleaded guilty to the charges in March 2016, but he failed to appear for sentencing later that month. The court issued a warrant for his arrest, yet he remained on the loose for a year. Last month, he was arrested by an officer who noticed the warrant while serving him with an order in an unrelated case.
Brazen Deception in Workers’ Comp Case
“The brazen deception in this case is stunning,” said Annette Taylor, deputy assistant director of L&I’s Fraud Prevention & Labor Standards. “Workers’ comp scammers are taking resources that are meant to help legitimately injured workers heal and return to work. Catching violators and holding them accountable helps us make sure the workers’ comp system is there and ready for employees and employers.”
The case started when Castillo Murguia fell from walking stilts as he taped drywall at a Seattle job site, injuring his right knee. He filed a workplace injury claim, calling himself Juan Pedro Castillo.
Treating physicians confirmed that his injury prevented him from working, allowing him to receive cash payments to make up for part of his lost wages. In addition, Castillo Murguia repeatedly stated on official forms that he couldn’t work, and wasn’t working, due to the on-the-job injury.
Read more at EHSToday.com
