NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — A Staten Island man is accused of faking positive COVID-19 tests in order to obtain workers’ compensation benefits.
Ajani Shaw, 23, is charged with grand larceny, insurance fraud, forgery, falsifying business records and workers’ compensation fraudulent practices.
According to New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang, Shaw submitted his first workers’ compensation claim for exposure to COVID-19 in March 2020, while working as a park-time kitchen service employee at Staten Island’s Seaview Nursing Home.
He allegedly submitted an “out-of-work” note signed by a physician from Staten Island’s Advantage Care Physicians on April 3, 2020 and provided a positive COVID-19 test dated from April 8, 2020 to the insurance carrier. The insurer then began paying Shaw $150 per week in workers’ compensation benefits.
Shaw allegedly then emailed additional documents to the carrier in order to support extending his claim.
Lang said Shaw submitted six additional COVID-19 positive test results and “out-of-work” notes between May 8 through Aug. 8, 2020.
He continued to receive workers’ compensation benefits through July 24, 2020, when the insurance carrier notice many of the positive test results use the same specimen ID, Lang said.
An investigation then determined that Shaw had only submitted two legitimate COVID-19 positive test results in April 2020. It also revealed that Shaw has only had two appointments with a physician in April 2020 and was not seen again until August 2020.
Investigators determined a June 2020 note prescribing four weeks of quarantine was fraudulent and that Shaw submitted six fabricated positive tests.
Because of the submissions, Shaw collected a total of $1,761 in workers’ compensation payments.
“Workers’ Compensation insurance is essential to the success of our state’s workforce and businesses, and all the more so during times of crisis,” said Lang. “Thanks to our partners at the Staten Island District Attorney’s Office for helping ensure the integrity of this vital safety net.”
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