Florida Worker to Repay Disability Income

By Ashley Van Leuven

Published on April 24, 2007

Jeffrey H. Jones, 47, worked for the city of Clermont in the maintenance department for 16 years. He reported a back injury in June 2004 and collected $78,523.80 in disability benefits between June 2004 and May 2005.

Clermont officials would not discuss Jones' workers' compensation claim, although a doctor's note states that Jones' reported injuries were more than the doctor could explain.

The Florida League of Cities, responsible for paying the workers' compensation claims for Clermont, became suspicious of Jones' injuries and sent a fraud investigator to collect evidence.

Reports state that, although Jones said he could not bend, walk, or sit longer than 10 minutes or lift more than 5 pounds, he was seen moving a sofa from his trailer, hauling cases of beer from a store, and working on his car.

Jones was terminated from his job in August 2005, and now works for a security company in Minneola.

Circuit Judge T. Michael Johnson ordered him to make payments of at least $100 a month in restitution. Additionally, Jones pleaded no contest earlier this month to grand theft and perjury and agreed to remain on probation for 15 years.

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