FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Rocky Hill, CT) – A Massachusetts man has pleaded guilty to collecting workers’ compensation and transportation benefits in the amount of $86,648.08 during his employment as a Correction Officer with the State of Connecticut Department of Correction.
Matthew Hubbard, age 56, of Agawam, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in Superior Court in Hartford on April 26, 2024 to three counts of Larceny in the Fourth Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-125. Following his plea, the Honorable Nuala E. Droney sentenced Hubbard to 364 days in prison on each count (for a total of 1,092 days), execution suspended, with two years of probation with special conditions. Restitution will be determined through the Workers’ Compensation Commissioner.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Hubbard was injured during the course of his employment and placed on temporary total disability. He began receiving wage replacement and medical benefits paid by the State of Connecticut. While receiving workers’ compensation benefits, Hubbard was involved in a recertification process for his position as a reserve police officer for the Agawam Police Department in Massachusetts, and engaged in real estate transactions as an agent. During the period of disability, the recipient is considered to have zero work capacity and must inform his employer of any medical improvement, and to report any other employment income beyond the benefits provided.
The case was prosecuted by the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Control Unit of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney in Rocky Hill.