A 50-year-old US-based Ghanaian national, Betty Boateng, has been sentenced to a 12-month suspended sentence by a court in Ohio, United States, after pleading guilty to defrauding by false pretences.
According to a statement issued by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) on October 9, 2026, an investigation by its Special Investigations Department found that Boateng collected disability benefits while working for two employers providing non-medical in-home care services.
“Betty Boateng, 50, of Columbus, has pleaded guilty to one count of Workers’ Compensation Fraud, a fifth-degree felony, after an investigation by the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) Special Investigations Department determined she has collected disability benefits while simultaneously providing non-medical in-home care services for multiple employers.
“BWC investigators found that Boateng knowingly and with fraudulent intent returned to work for two different employers during periods when she was receiving BWC disability benefits to which she was not entitled,” the statement said.
The investigation revealed that she earned wages while continuing to receive disability payments, resulting in improper payments totalling US$53,278.40.
On September 23, 2026, a judge at the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas accepted Boateng’s guilty plea and sentenced her to 12 months, suspended, with 60 months of community control.
She was also ordered to meet mandatory reporting requirements and repay US$53,278.40 to the BWC. The court waived fines but imposed court costs.
BWC Administrator Stephanie McCloud said the agency is committed to preventing fraud and protecting funds meant for eligible workers.
“Fraud against the workers’ compensation system hurts honest Ohio workers and employers,” she said. “We are committed to holding accountable those who abuse the system and ensuring that funds remain available for individuals truly in need,” she said.
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