A firefighter with the Department of Veterans Affairs has admitted to engaging in a scheme to commit workers' compensation fraud, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney John Giordano.
Richard Hyland, 61, from Westbury, New York, pleaded guilty to one count of workers' compensation fraud. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams in Camden federal court.
Court documents and statements reveal that Hyland was employed at the Lyons VA Medical Center in Lyons, New Jersey. After sustaining a back injury in 2014, he began receiving workers' compensation benefits. To maintain these benefits, Hyland annually certified to the U.S. Department of Labor that he was not engaged in any work or volunteer activities elsewhere.
These certifications were found to be false. From as early as March 2017, Hyland worked as a tow truck driver and also took on roles as a long-haul truck driver while volunteering at his local fire department. Over this period until December 2024, he received $479,341.26 fraudulently in workers' compensation benefits.
The charge of workers' compensation fraud could result in a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is set for July 11, 2025.
U.S. Attorney John Giordano acknowledged the investigative efforts of special agents from the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General led by Jonathan Mellone and the Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of the Inspector General under Chris Algieri's direction.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph McFarlane from the Special Prosecutions Division in Camden represents the government in this case.
Defense counsel for Richard Hyland is Zach Intrater from Agnifilo Intrater LLP.
