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A woman has been sentenced to prison in connection with workers’ comp fraud. The incident involved an alleged injury while the woman was traveling for business. She claimed she had been struck by a falling vase.

Tamara Thompson-Johnson of Maryland has been sentenced to 2.5 years in a Nevada state prison for attempting to defraud her employer’s workers’ compensation insurer of $20,000. She’s also been ordered to pay $20,435 in full restitution to Travelers Insurance, $4,005 in extradition costs and $1,000 in other costs connected to the case.

Officials say Thompson-Johnson claimed she was injured Oct. 15, 2006 at the Las Vegas Hilton when a vase was knocked over from its pedestal. Surveillance video clearly shows her talking on her cell phone when the large vase was knocked over, narrowly missing her. Thompson-Johnson was seen assisting other bystanders in clearing the debris before leaving the scene.

Hours later, after refusing medical treatment, she reported to security that she had been struck by the vase and checked herself into a hospital.

Thompson-Johnson pursued a claim against the Hilton, but it was denied after the surveillance video came to light.

Despite that, she filed a workers’ comp claim, alleging the falling vase struck her on the back of her head, neck and back, leaving her disabled. Travelers paid more than $20,000 on the fraudulent claim.

Finally, Thompson-Johnson pled guilty to one felony count of making false statements to obtain benefits.

You can download a court document on the case here (PDF).

Tags: sentenced to prison, struck by vase, workers' comp fraud