46-year old Eduardo Medina Ruelas of Sanger was captured on video visiting a casino, shopping, watering his lawn, and transferring a large piano keyboard from the trunk of his vehicle into another. The activities contradicted Ruelas’ claims of injury and inability to work.
On June 13, 2017, Ruelas was working at Pitman Family Farms and was injured when a forklift struck him. Ruelas was granted temporary disability and discontinued work. During follow-up visits he reported to his doctor severe and widespread pain plaguing his back and body.
When Ruelas was recommended he start light work, he insisted his persistent and severe pain would not
allow it.
While on disability Ruelas collected $38,000 in workers’ compensation insurance benefits and medical treatment. On September 25, 2020, Ruelas was arraigned for receiving these benefits under alleged fraudulent claims given his post injury activities. He was charged with multiple counts of felony insurance fraud. The case will be prosecuted by the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office and is due back in court on October 19, 2020.
