Press Release  Quincy Man Pleads Guilty in Connection with Fraudulently Collecting More Than $28,000 in Benefits While Working

Boston — A Quincy man has pleaded guilty to charges he fraudulently collected more than $28,000 in workers’ compensation benefits while working under a false identity, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

“Workers’ compensation is essential to helping individuals that are unable to work as the result of work related injuries,” AG Healey said. “Insurance fraud has the potential to negatively affect everyone by raising rates and damaging the integrity of the system.  

“The Insurance Fraud Bureau continues to work through Attorney General Maura Healey’s office to bring cases like this for criminal prosecution,” said Daniel Johnston, Executive Director of the Insurance Fraud Bureau. “Fraudulent Workers Comp claims drain money from the system needed for honest injured workers, as well as drive premium costs up for businesses that are striving to succeed in this economy.”

Paulo DaSilva, 53, pleaded guilty to charges of Workers’ Compensation Fraud and Larceny Over $250. Following his plea Suffolk Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Locke sentenced DaSilva to four years of probation and ordered him to pay more than $28,000 in restitution.

DaSilva suffered a work related injury in August 2010 while working for a landscaping company and began collecting total temporary disability (TTD) benefits from NGM Insurance Co. (NGM), the company’s insurer.

While collecting benefits, DaSilva applied for another landscaping job using an assumed identity and began working in April 2011. During the time of this employment DaSilva underwent an Independent Medical Examination to confirm that his injury was work related and incapacitating. At the examination DaSilva claimed to be unable to work while he was allegedly working fulltime.

DaSilva entered into a negotiated settlement to conclude his workers’ compensation claim with NGM in October 2011. Based on his false representations that he had not worked, DaSilva fraudulently collected a combined total of more than $28,000 in workers’ compensation benefits. 

A Suffolk County Grand Jury returned indictments against DaSilva on Feb. 6, 2014. DaSilva was arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court on Feb. 26, 2014, where he pleaded not guilty and was released on personal recognizance. DaSilva pleaded guilty and was sentenced on March 13.

The Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Division (IUFD) works to protect consumers and the integrity of the insurance system by investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against all types of insurers, including the Commonwealth’s unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation systems. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Thomas Caldwell of AG Healey’s Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Division with assistance from investigator Steven Pfister of the Attorney General’s Office and investigators from the IFB. 

###