March 2, 2020

RETIRED FOSTER FARMS EMPLOYEE CONVICTED OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION FRAUD

Modesto, CA – The Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office announced today the conviction of a retired Foster Farms employee for workers’ compensation insurance fraud. Gurmail Singh was employed in the processing facility as a paw sorter for the company and
reported an on the job injury in November of 2014. Singh filed a workers’ compensation claim and as a result, received medical treatment and workers’ compensation benefits. He retired from Foster Farms in June of 2015 and continued to receive benefits. During a subsequent
investigation, it was alleged Singh presented false statements and material misrepresentations during his deposition and at a medical appointment. Singh misrepresented facts as it related to his physical abilities and limitations associated with his injury and prior medical history.

On February 28, 2020, Singh pleaded no contest to Insurance Fraud, in violation of Insurance Code section 1871.4(a)(2), in that he unlawfully and knowingly made a false and fraudulent material statement in support of obtaining workers’ compensation insurance benefits. He was convicted and sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,200 to Foster Farms for reimbursement of investigation costs.

This case was a joint investigation with Foster Farms’ Special Investigation Unit and the Amador County District Attorney’s Workers’ Compensation Fraud Unit. The Fraud Unit investigates insurance fraud cases in Stanislaus County through a grant provided by the California Department of Insurance. If you think someone is committing workers’ compensation fraud, report it to the California Department of Insurance Fraud Hotline at (916) 854-5700 or the Amador County District Attorney’s Office at (209) 223-6444.