A Youngstown woman convicted of illegally collecting $93,912 in workplace injury benefits

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A Youngstown woman has been ordered to repay the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation $93,912 in workplace-injury benefits she illegally collected.

Zelma Forro of Oak Street Extension received an 18-month prison sentence suspended to three years of probation under the condition she pay back the money, according to a Friday statement from BWC.

Forro, 60, pleaded guilty Jan. 29 in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to workers’ compensation fraud, a fourth-degree felony.

“Ms. Forro was able to collect a substantial amount of money while claiming to be permanently disabled and knowingly working in violation of the law,” said Steve Buehrer, BWC administrator and chief executive officer. “Fortunately, an anonymous tip helped our investigators put a stop to her deceit, and these dollars will be returned to the State Insurance Fund to assist injured workers who are truly unable to return to work.”

BWC’s Special Investigations Department began investigating Forro after receiving an allegation that she was working for Home Savings & Loan during the same period of time she was on permanent total disability after a workplace injury. The source reported that Forro was working in the capacity of an independent contractor for this business, rather than a direct bank employee, according to the BWC statement.

BWC investigators obtained documented evidence supporting the allegation that Forro was employed as an independent contractor for Home Savings. Forro was assessing distressed properties, completing property inspections, evaluating the general condition and obtaining the current photographs of such properties. Investigators relied on financial records, surveillance operations and field interviews to substantiate the allegation, according to BWC.