Neck “Injury” Lands Woman in Prison

How can carrying furniture into a moving truck and flipping your hair get you in serious trouble? In the case of an Albany woman, who has been sentenced to jail time and fined tens of thousands of dollars in restitution, file a claim for an injury that never existed first.

According to News10, 23-year-old Kelly Woods was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison, and must pay $43,405 in restitution to the New York State Insurance Fund after she faked a neck injury and attempted to claim over $300,000.

Fortunately, state insurance investigators caught on video having full use of her neck before she could get away with the full amount.

Woods pled guilty to fraudulently representing an injury, a permanent fixed Torticollis, to doctors, the New York State Insurance Fund, and the Workers Compensation Board that she apparently suffered from between July of 2008 and November of 2010.

Torticollis is a condition in which a person’s head is always set at a 90-degree angle. Woods claimed this condition resulted from an injury that she suffered at her place of work, a construction firm based in Colonie.

Woods claimed that her head was placed on her right shoulder at all times, however during the period she was allegedly suffering from this condition she was seen on numerous days of surveillance footage moving her head and neck freely and normally.

Woods attempted to claim $316,400 from the New York State Insurance Fund. Additionally, during the period she allegedly had the injury, she stole $42,000 in compensation payments.

Woods was arraigned by Judge Thomas Breslin on Thursday morning in Albany County Court. She told the judge “I’m haunted by my poor decisions surrounding this situation every day and feel the deepest sorrow and remorse.”

Upon hearing of her pending criminal charges, Woods fled from New York to Utah, causing her to have to be extradited.

The construction company she worked for was also victim to Woods’ lie, as their workers compensation premiums increased significantly.

Woods is being charged with second degree Insurance Fraud, which is a felony; third degree Grand Larceny, another felony; and Worker’s Compensation Fraud, a third felony.

Woods signed a Workers Compensation agreement waiving future claims to benefits, essentially freeing up nearly $600,000 in workers compensation reserves that had been dedicated to her fraudulent claim.