Man accused of stealing over $25K in disability checks

WAYMART, WAYNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A Wayne County man is facing theft charges after allegedly cashing over $25,000 in workman compensation checks that weren’t his.

Wayne County District Attorney, A.G. Howell, annouced Friday that Devis Mathews, 44, originally of Waymart, Wayne County, was charged with one count of felony theft by unlawful taking.

According to a criminal affidavit, an investigation began in August 2020 after detectives were contacted by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Task Force regarding the cashing of disability checks by an unlawful person.

Law enforcement says the victim in this case was placed on disability after being injured at work and started receiving $800 checks every two weeks for workman’s compensation.

According to police, on March 10, 2020, the insurance company discovered that the victim died in July 2018 and the executor of his estate was listed as Mathews.

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Law enforcement says that between July 9, 2018, and November 4, 2019 checks for $800 were issued every two weeks after the victim’s death and all but two of them had been cashed or deposited by Mathews totaling, $25, 485.71.

Detectives say officials tried to contact Mathews numerous times regarding the overpayment but could not initially locate him. Mathews was discovered in a New York jail, serving time for an unrelated crime.

Investigators say Mathews was extricated to Pennyslvania, arraigned, and remanded to the Wayne County Correctional Facility.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 6, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.

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