A New York man who claimed he could not work because of an ankle injury sustained in his work as a painter collected more than $10,000 in workers’ compensation wage replacement benefits while concealing he was back on the job.
Christopher Cronk, of Central Square, admitted to insurance fraud as part of his plea in Onondaga County Court, according to New York State Workers’ Compensation Fraud Inspector General Lucy Lang.
Cronk was injured in March 2021 while employed by Cutting Edge Painting in Webster, and shortly thereafter began receiving wage replacement benefits that are intended to support injured workers who cannot earn a paycheck while they recover.
By March 2022, Cronk had resumed paid painting work at private properties and businesses, according to surveillance footage, witness statements and bank records used in the inspector general’s investigation. However, even as he worked, Cronk continued to certify to his insurance carrier — the New York State Insurance Fund — that he had not engaged in any employment.
On official work activity forms submitted in April and May 2022, he falsely answered “No” when asked whether he had performed any work for pay since his injury. Those misrepresentations allowed him to collect benefits through August of 2022, totaling $10,494 to which he was not entitled.
“Workers’ compensation exists to protect injured workers during recovery — not to underwrite undisclosed employment or serve as a second paycheck,” said Lang in announcing the plea.
The investigation began in February 2025 when Jonathan Mercedes Silvestre was identified as the broker for the sale of stolen motor vehicles, according to officials. The investigation included physical and covert video surveillance, court-authorized wiretapping of cellular telephones, the analysis of electronic evidence, including cellphone communications and tracking information, and other investigative operations.
Police said that the investgfation revealed that Raulin Rodriguez and Jender Santos-Ulloa were Silvestre’s sources for stolen vehicles, while Josue Dejesus Gonzalez, Juan Tavarez Cabrera, and other individuals allegedly served to locate, acquire, and transport vehicles to be resold to a network of customers throughout New York and New Jersey.
The vehicles were stolen from various locations throughout Bergen and Passaic Counties in New Jersey, as well as New York, Kings, Bronx, Queens, and Westchester Counties in New York.
The investigation recovered more than 40 stolen vehicles, including 19 Honda CRVs; six Lexus IS 350s; five Toyota Highlanders; four Honda Accords; three Acura TLXs; two Lexus IS 500s and one Honda Civic.
