CHP Officer in California Sentenced for Workers’ Comp Fraud After Disability Claim Unravels

A California Highway Patrol officer has been sentenced to 270 days in jail for workers’ compensation fraud following a scheme that misrepresented the severity of his on-duty injury. Officer Jordan Roy Lester, a 17-year veteran of the CHP, claimed to suffer from debilitating pain that rendered him unable to work. His fraudulent claim resulted in significant benefit payouts before a tip prompted internal surveillance that contradicted his medical narrative.

Investigators documented Lester engaging in strenuous physical activity—cutting trees, stacking firewood, and operating heavy equipment—despite his sworn statements of severe physical limitation. The legal consequences are substantial: over $360,000 in restitution and a permanent loss of service and pension credit for the fraud period.

This case has wide implications for insurance claims professionals managing public employee benefits, especially in high-trust roles like law enforcement. It also serves as a critical reminder of the role of surveillance, tip lines, and inter-agency coordination in detecting fraud. The financial impact of false claims affects not only state budgets but also the credibility of legitimate claims, creating downstream challenges for adjusters, case managers, and investigators.

With California’s large pool of public sector employees and a historically active workers’ compensation claims environment, this conviction highlights both the opportunity and the necessity for proactive fraud detection measures. Adjusters operating in or handling California cases should be especially aware of the state’s aggressive prosecutorial stance on comp fraud, particularly when claimants are in high-visibility professions.