One man's days in the sun could be numbered after he allegedly committed insurance fraud to collect thousands in undeserved Workers' Compensation benefits.

On March 26, authorities arrested Julio Santiago, 53, of Rowland Heights, Calif., charging him with grand theft and multiple felony counts, including making false statements and “presenting false or fraudulent written material to obtain compensation.”

According to investigators, on April 9, 2009 Santiago allegedly suffered an industrial injury while he was employed as a security guard for the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District. He later filed a Workers' Comp claim to Intercare Insurance Services.

Apparently, Intercare had its own suspicions about Santiago's claim—and in May 2009 conducted an investigation. The company's probe revealed that Santiago had been double-dipping—collecting Workers' Comp benefits while working as a security guard for a separate employer.

Intercare referred Santiago's alleged scam to the California Department of Insurance (CDI) Fraud Division for further review. CDI Fraud Division investigators confirmed that Santiago was indeed working as a security guard for another company beginning in June 2009.

According to a press release issued by California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, Santiago earned $29,750 in income from the second employer while still knowingly collecting Workers' Comp benefits for the claimed work-related injury.

Investigators discovered that between June 13, 2009 to Feb. 17, 2010, Santiago received Temporary Total Disability benefits in the amount of $13,606.86 from Intercare.

Following his arrest, Santiago was booked at the Los Angeles County Jail, where he remains under the watch of real guards while awaiting trial. Bail has been set at $120,000.

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