NEW HAVEN — A Massachusetts man has entered a guilty plea for illegally collecting over $86,000 in workers’ compensation and transportation benefits while employed as a correction officer for the Connecticut Department of Correction.
Matthew Hubbard, 56, of Agawam, Massachusetts, appeared in Superior Court in Hartford on April 26, pleading guilty to three counts of fourth-degree larceny under Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-125.
The Honorable Nuala E. Droney handed down a sentence of 364 days in prison for each count, totaling 1,092 days, but suspended the execution in favor of two years of probation with special conditions.
Restitution will be set by the Workers’ Compensation Commissioner.
Investigations revealed that while on temporary total disability due to a work-related injury, Hubbard received wage replacement and medical benefits from the State of Connecticut.
It was during this time that he was recertifying as a reserve police officer with the Agawam Police Department and actively working as a real estate agent.
Hubbard failed to notify his employer about his improved medical condition and did not report his additional income, as required by the conditions of receiving disability benefits.
The Workers’ Compensation Fraud Control Unit of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney in Rocky Hill prosecuted the case.
