Pierce County man charged with theft in workers’ comp scam

A 63-calendar year-previous Lakewood guy is experiencing prison charges for getting tens of 1000’s of dollars in workers payment payments about virtually seven a long time for a shoulder damage whilst he allegedly continued to work on roofs.

Investigators with the Washington State Division of Labor & Industries took images of the male, Patrick Dean Farthing, setting up roofs, transferring products and heavy materials on and off job web-sites and directing perform crews in 2018 when he acknowledged wage replacement revenue for his damage, in accordance to a news launch from the division. Farthing allegedly ongoing to accept payments right until January 2021, accumulating a lot more than $54,000.

“When we hear about fraud, we examine,” stated Celeste Monahan, assistant director for L&I’s Fraud Prevention and Labor Benchmarks division. “Cheaters appear to feel that thieving workers’ comp rewards does not harm any person. But it is using funds from legitimately wounded personnel, and every person whose difficult-gained pounds aid the workers’ compensation program.”

Farthing is to be arraigned Dec. 27 in Thurston County Excellent Courtroom on just one count of initially-degree theft, in accordance to the release. The state Lawyer General’s Business office is prosecuting the circumstance.

Investigators said Farthing was injured on the position in 2010 although repairing a roof. A professional medical service provider decided it was extreme sufficient that he could not get the job done as a roofer. Farthing allegedly claimed then that he was not doing work in any occupation, and he competent for momentary wage replacement payments and then for a pension.

The payments Farthing is accused of wrongfully getting began in mid-2014. According to L&I, financial institution data and invoices obtained by investigators confirmed he was buying roofing materials in 2014 and in some cases used the title Adam Lay or did enterprise as Pat Farthing Roofing.

In 2018, the company commenced investigating Farthing just after it acquired a suggestion he was performing as a roofer. A workforce of investigators established he was running his have company performing roofing do the job in the course of the South Sound.

Construction compliance investigators also issued Farthing civil infractions for unregistered contracting right after he and his get the job done crews had been caught roofing properties in Spanaway and Olympia in 2018. In accordance to the launch, penalties totaling $5,000 continue to be unpaid. An inspector at a person internet site questioned Farthing if he preferred to sign up as a contractor, and he allegedly replied that he was not interested.