Federal Worker's Compensation Benefits Conviction

US Department of Justice, Jan 24, 2007

Maxwell Wood, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced that Rufus Edward Hickman was convicted by a federal jury in Macon, Georgia, of nine counts of making false statements regarding Federal Workers’ Compensation Benefits in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1920.

Hickman was a civilian employee at Robins AFB, Georgia employed in the area of materials expediting. In 1987, Hickman suffered a work related injury, and was awarded workers’ compensation.

Subsequent to his injury, Hickman became involved in the management and operations of a used car lot, Roberta Auto Sales, located in Roberta, Georgia. In his annual reports to the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs for 2001 to 2005, Hickman stated he was neither employed, nor involved in any business.

Likewise, on the annual reports for 2001 to 2004, Hickman stated that he was married. However, in forms to another government agency, the defendant stated under oath that he was single. By claiming he was married, Hickman increased the amount of benefits he received from workers’ compensation.

From 2001 through 2005, Hickman received in excess of $100,000.00 in tax free benefits from workers’ compensation.

The verdict was returned after a two day trial and approximately three hours of deliberations. Sentencing will be scheduled on a date to be determined by the Court before the Honorable C. Ashley Royal, United States District Judge. Hickman faces a maximum possible sentence of five years imprisonment, and a $250,000.00 fine per count.