Tara Lynn Bumgardner of Thermopolis is serving up to seven years in prison for misrepresentation or providing false statements to obtain worker’s compensation and for fraudulent attempts to obtain unemployment benefits.

DWS Director Joan Evans said,

“The Department’s Special Investigation Unit and our partners will continue to aggressively pursue those who attempt to defraud these important programs, I am especially grateful to the Hot Springs County Attorney’s office for its commitment to prosecuting this case.”

Bumgardner’s case was brought by the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services (DWS) Special Investigation Unit and was prosecuted by the Hot Springs County Attorney’s Office.

Deputy Hot Springs County Attorney Marcia Bean said,

“Worker’s Compensation and Unemployment benefits are vital programs in place to help people who need assistance when they are injured on the job or unemployed through no fault of their own, when someone defrauds these programs for their own financial gain, it hurts every citizen in Wyoming. The Hot Springs County Attorney’s Office takes these cases very seriously and will vigorously prosecute offenders.”

Sentenced in February, Bumgarder was ordered to pay $47,389.50 in restitution to the State of Wyoming. The DWS fraud unit works with Wyoming district or county attorneys to prosecute pending cases.

Fraud can be reported directly to DWS by calling (888) 996-9226, or by contacting Wyoming Workforce.

More From My Country 95.5