COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A Ross County woman has been ordered to repay over $55,000 in stolen funds after a fraud conviction out of Franklin County.
According to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, its special investigations department initiated an investigation after receiving a complaint that Deborah Belcher, 40, was fraudulently receiving disability benefits.
Ohio bill would require warning labels on ‘addictive’ social media platforms
Investigators confirmed that Belcher had in fact returned to her job as a retail associate and cashier at several businesses located in Chillicothe, Circleville and Portsmouth while still receiving disability benefits.
Franklin County court records note that Belcher, of Chillicothe, was indicted in April 2025 on charges of theft and workers compensation fraud. She pleaded not guilty before changing her plea in March.
As part of the plea agreement, a judge ordered Belcher to repay a total sum of $55,354.79. She was given a 12-month prison sentence, which was suspended, and a nonreporting community control period of five years. The theft charge was dropped…