CMV driver sentenced for lying about medical disability
| Tweet |
A commercial driver from Virginia has been sentenced to 10 months in jail and 3 years of supervised release for stealing government disability payments after lying about his medical condition during his DOT medical exam. He was also ordered to repay about $130,000 in stolen government funds. An investigation revealed that from 2002 to 2011, Risden Richardson, employed as a driver for a Virginia-based interstate trucking company, failed to report that he had a medical condition on his DOT medical examination report, as required by federal regulation. If reported, his medical conditions would have made him ineligible to be employed as a commercial motor vehicle driver. During the same period, he reported to the Social Security Administration that he was unable to work due to a back disorder. Becuase Richardson was on Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, he was prohibited from working more than 80 hours a month or earning more than $1,000 per month. Records show that between 2002 and 2010, Richardson earned almost $1.4 million from his work as a truck driver and worked more than 80 hours per month. To conceal his work activity, Richardson had his driver wages made payable to his wife's trucking company. As part of his plea, Richardson admitted that he improperly receive disability payments and gave false information on DOT required documents.
