LAPD Officer Convicted of Workers” Compensation Fraud NR11301bb

Los Angeles:  Today, a veteran Los Angeles police officer pled guilty to misdemeanor workers’ compensation fraud.

On September 30, 2010, Police Officer Robert Yanez, who has 11 years of service with the Los Angeles Police Department, last assigned to Wilshire Division, was arrested by investigators of the Department’s Workers’ Compensation Fraud Unit (WCFU) on six felony counts of workers’ compensation insurance fraud.

The WCFU of Special Operations Division began investigating Yanez after he submitted inconsistent doctor’s notes which extended his worker’s compensation benefits.  

The altered medical notes extended Yanez’ leave from the Department and furthered his compensation benefits.

As part of the criminal conviction for workers’ compensation fraud, the court ordered Yanez to pay full restitution to the City of Los Angeles in the amount of $ 6,234.08.  In addition, Yanez was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and placed on two years of summary probation.  Yanez has been relieved of duty pending the outcome of an administrative hearing.

The WCFU was expanded by the Department in late 2008 to investigate employees possibly involved in workers’ compensation fraud and abuse of benefits.  The goal of the Department has been to aggressively investigate fraud and abuse of benefits within the workers’ compensation system.  The Department has and will continue to investigate and prosecute employees who compromise the safety of the public by committing fraud.  

The investigation was conducted in partnerships with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Healthcare Fraud Division, the City of Los Angeles Personnel Department and TriStar Risk Management.

Anyone with information related to other cases of workers compensation fraud is encouraged to call the LAPD Special Operations Division at 213-473-5672.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.   Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.