Bigfork man admits to workers' comp fraud

A Bigfork man has admitted to fraudulently collecting more than $27,000 in workers’ compensation benefits from the state while bragging about playing golf daily and working “under the counter.”

Montana Attorney General Tim Fox announced Thursday that David Howke, 45, pleaded guilty in Montana District Court on Wednesday to the criminal theft charge that he fraudulently collected benefits from the Montana State Fund between April 2013 and March 2015.

According to a press release from the Attorney General office, Howke filed a claim with the State Fund in December 2012 for a work-related injury. The State Fund accepted the claim and paid medical benefits, continuing bi-weekly, of $822.

In November 2014, Montana State Fund received a confidential fraud tip that Howke was working “under the counter,” was playing golf all the time, bragging that he played up to 36 holes of golf daily.

Under Montana law, a person who knowingly or purposely earns wages while also collecting wage-loss benefits is guilty of theft, according to the state Attorney General office.

In January 2015, the State Fund referred the allegation of theft to the Montana Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, which found that Howke failed to disclose that he was capable of working or was working and earning money while also receiving disability benefits.

Howke was given a five-year suspended sentence to the Montana Department of Corrections, and ordered to pay back $27,478 in fraudulently collected benefits to the State Fund.

“Workers’ compensation fraud is a drain on Montana businesses, and anytime we can mitigate this deceitful behavior, we’re reducing upward pressure on the costs shouldered by businesses in our state,” Fox stated in the press release. “I congratulate my staff at the Department of Justice for a job well done. They should be proud of their work to help Montana businesses.”