Jury Convicts Air Traffic Controller/Pilot of Defrauding Workers' Compensation Program of More Than $359,000

Office of Inspector General

Title:	Jury Convicts Air Traffic Controller/Pilot of Defrauding Workers' Compensation Program of More Than $359,000
Date:	February 06, 2004
Type:	Investigation
Summary:	Michael L. Harms, of Grapevine, TX, an air traffic controller and pilot, was convicted by a jury in U.S. District Court in Dallas on six counts of defrauding the Workers' Compensation Program of more than $359,000. Harms filed a workers’ compensation claim in November 1996 when he injured his back while working as an air traffic controller. Even as he collected these funds and advised the Workers’ Compensation Program of his continuing unemployment, Harms was earning income as a pilot for air-freight companies. Harms is scheduled to be sentenced in May. The investigation was conducted by OIGs of the Department of Labor and Department of Transportation.