FOLSOM, Calif. – California Highway Patrol (CHP) investigators arrested a former CHP captain today on suspicion of workers’ compensation insurance fraud and theft, pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office for the following charges:
- 1871.4(a)(1) IC - False statement to fraudulently obtain compensation
- 550(a)(1) PC - Knowingly presenting false insurance claim
- 550(b)(1) PC - Knowingly making false statement for insurance payment
- 550(b)(3) PC - Concealing or failing to disclose event affecting benefits
- 118(a) PC - Perjury
- 20 VC - False statement to DMV
Matthew Stover, 51, a 22-year veteran of the Department, was arrested without incident in Folsom and was booked into the Sacramento County Jail. The arrest resulted from an extensive, multi-year investigation by the CHP’s Workers’ Compensation Fraud Investigations Unit based at CHP’s Headquarters in Sacramento.
Stover filed a workers’ compensation insurance claim on June 20, 2023, and was placed off work by his physician on June 23, 2023. Analysis conducted by the CHP’s Workers’ Compensation Fraud Investigations Unit identified potential fraud, and an investigation was initiated.
The investigation revealed Stover committed worker’s compensation fraud by engaging in activities, while on injury leave, inconsistent with limitations he reported to physicians and restrictions placed upon him by his medical providers. During the investigation, CHP investigators also discovered Stover committed perjury and fraud by falsifying vehicle registration paperwork he submitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
The CHP wants to assure the public that it takes all allegations of employee misconduct very seriously. When allegations of misconduct by an employee are suspected, the Department takes swift and appropriate action to investigate the allegations. Questions regarding the criminal case should be directed to the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office.
The CHP’s Workers’ Compensation Fraud Investigations Unit is a specialized team that investigates allegations of workers' compensation fraud. Allegations of workers' compensation fraud may be reported by calling a toll-free Fraud Reporting Hotline (1-866-779-9237) or at https://www.chp.ca.gov/notify-chp/workers-comp-fraud
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
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