27 carpenters in the Midwest ordered to repay $531K to union: prosecutor

HAMMOND, Ind. — Federal prosecutors say 27 carpenters have been ordered to repay more than $500,000 to their union after pleading guilty to health care theft.

U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirsch of the Northern District of Indiana said Monday the 27 members of the Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters were order to repay a total of $531,000.

Documents filed in the case say the carpenters filed false medical claims illegally requesting reimbursement of medical expenses from the union’s health care program.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

Prosecutors did not release additional details about the thefts.