Former Columbiana man pleads guilty to Workers' Comp fraud charges

Randy Bartosh, a former Columbiana resident, pleaded guilty to fraud this month after an investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation found he was collecting benefits while running a tattoo shop in Pennsylvania.

Bartosh pleaded guilty Aug. 15 in the Franklin County Common Pleas Court after repaying more than $4,500 to the state.

The BWC's special-investigations department opened an investigation after a confidential source contacted the fraud hotline to say Bartosh was engaging in physical activity inconsistent with his complaints to doctors in his workers’ compensation claim.

Bartosh was receiving the benefits for an injury that occurred while working for Zarbana Industries in Columbiana.

Investigators conducted social media searches, undercover operations and obtained bank records discovering that Bartosh opened a tattoo shop called 213’s Tattoo U in Coraopolis, Pa., while receiving temporary total disability benefits.

Bartosh tattooed customers, and managed business and marketing operations.