Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today an indictment against two Aurora residents suspected of stealing $140,000 worth of workers’ compensation funds from Pinnacol Assurance.
According to the 18-count indictment, Martin Lobatos collected workers compensation in the fall of 2008 after a fall off a ladder while working as a roofer, but was declared fully recovered by his doctors in April 2009.
However, following his termination from his job in April and subsequent to him accepting a $20,000 settlement from Pinnacol Assurance in September 2009, Lobatos started to complain of new symptoms and reported to doctors March 2010 that he had become fully catatonic.
Lobatos’ wife, Belen Luna Lobatos, accompanied him to medical appointments and assisted him during these trips and his hospital stays, the indictment states.
Martin Lobatos, however, was observed driving and shopping after leaving medical exams where he acted as fully catatonic, according to the indictment.
He also allegedly passed drivers tests with an above-average score one week after he appeared to be unable to normally function. Belen Luna Lobatos is suspected of assisting her husband to defraud Pinnacol Assurance and fraudulently claiming $4,000 a month from Pinnacol Assurance to care for her husband between April 2010 and May 2011.
Prosecutors from the Office of the Attorney General will present the case against the Lobatos in Denver District Court. Each defendant could face a fine of up to $750,000 and up to 12 years in prison if convicted of theft, a class-three felony.
