October 16, 2014: Montgomery County Police Officer Pleads Guilty To Perjury and Felony Workers’ Compensation Fraud

For Immediate Release                                                                     October 16, 2014

MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE OFFICER PLEADS GUILTY TO PERJURY AND FELONY WORKERS’ COMPENSATION FRAUD

            State Prosecutor Emmet C. Davitt announced today that Montgomery County Police Officer Gilbert L. Payne, who left the Baltimore City Police Department on a full disability pension in 2007, pleaded guilty in the Baltimore City Circuit Court to perjury and felony workers’ compensation fraud. This matter was originally referred to the Office of the State Prosecutor by the Baltimore City Inspector General’s Office.

            In a statement of facts read into the record, the court learned that Officer Payne falsely testified under oath at a September 2008 workers’ compensation hearing that he was not employed at the time, nor had he been employed since retiring from the Baltimore City Police Department, when, in fact, he was then employed full time as a sworn Towson University Police Officer. (see Statement of Facts). The Statement of Facts further indicated  that, as a result of this fraudulent misrepresentation,  he received  just over $30,000.00 in payments to which he was not entitled.  

            The Honorable  Barry G. Williams  sentenced Payne on each count to concurrent terms of three years’ incarceration and suspended that term in favor of three years of supervised probation. He ordered  Payne to pay $30, 009.17 in restitution and further ordered him to perform three hundred hours of community service.

            State Prosecutor Emmet C. Davitt stated: “Testifying falsely under oath and making false statements in order to fraudulently obtain additional workers’ compensation funds is never acceptable. It is particularly egregious, however, when such acts are committed by a police officer sworn to uphold the law.”