The Sacramento District Attorney announced the arrest of 11-year veteran California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer Daniel Cory Clapp, stationed in Lassen County, and his wife, CHP dispatcher Jolea Marie Clapp, on five felony counts of workers’ compensation insurance fraud.
Daniel Clapp filed his workers’ compensation claim based upon injuries he allegedly received during a scuffle while making an arrest on December 27, 2011. Daniel and Jolea Clapp stated to the workers’ compensation doctor that Daniel was unable to drive, lift heavy items, and that pain prevented him from performing his duties as a CHP officer.
The CHP’s Internal Affairs Section, Workers’ Compensation Fraud Investigation Unit, conducted surveillance on numerous occasions and observed Daniel Clapp camp, boat, swim and dive. In addition, he was observed driving for long periods of time and cutting and carrying firewood rounds 18″ thick and 24″ in diameter. Jolea Clapp often accompanied Daniel Clapp on these pleasure outings and would drive for him while in the local CHP jurisdiction and then change driver positions outside of the jurisdiction.
During medical visits in which Daniel Clapp complained of pain, Jolea Clapp forcefully corroborated her husband’s accounts of disabling pain and his inability to perform physical activities that she was observed seeing him perform. The details of the investigation are documented in the 157 page affidavit and felony complaint prepared in the case.
Both defendants are accused of conspiracy to make false statements in support of a workers’ compensation insurance claim and making false statements about the true extent of Daniel Clapp’s physical activities and abilities in order to obtain benefits. Daniel Clapp is additionally accused of perjury for false statements in a deposition.
The amount of the fraud is in excess of $50,000 and the charges carry a potential state prison sentence of up to 5 years and a $150,000 fine upon conviction. The defendants will appear in Sacramento Superior Court in early February 2014. This case is being prosecuted by the District Attorney’s Insurance Fraud Unit. View Arrest