California Highway Patrol arrests former CHP officer for workers' compensation fraud

California Highway Patrol investigators arrested a former CHP officer on Tuesday on charges he committed workers' compensation fraud two years ago while working for the state law enforcement agency.

Jordan Lester, 44, was arrested without incident in Quincy and taken to the Plumas County Jail, the CHP said in a news release. Lester worked for the agency for 16 years and was assigned to the CHP's Quincy office.

According to the CHP, Lester was arrested on suspicion of making false statements to fraudulently obtain compensation, making false statements regarding an insurance claim or benefit, concealing or failing to disclose an incident affecting benefits, perjury and making false statements to the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

Lester filed a claim for workers' compensation on July 12, 2021, and was given sick leave by his doctor in January 2022. While he was on sick leave, the CHP's Workers' Compensation Fraud Investigation Unit received an anonymous tip. This led to the CHP launching its own investigation into Lester.

According to the CHP, the investigation revealed that Lester committed workers' compensation fraud by engaging in activities while on sick leave that were inconsistent with the restrictions and limitations prescribed by his doctor.

Investigators also found, according to the CHP, that Lester committed perjury and made false statements to the DMV when he fraudulently misrepresented the purchase price of a vehicle he purchased.

CHP fraud investigators are based at the agency's headquarters in Sacramento, and the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office obtained the arrest warrant for Lester.

“The CHP wants to assure the public that it takes all allegations of employee misconduct very seriously,” CHP officials said in the press release. “When allegations of employee misconduct are suspected, the department takes prompt and appropriate action to investigate the allegations.”

Allegations of workers compensation fraud can be reported by calling the CHP fraud hotline at 866-779-9237.