Vince Gasparini
March 3, 2026
Central Square, N.Y. - An Oswego County man admitted in court Tuesday that he collected more than $10,000 in worker’s compensation benefits while lying about being out of work due to an injury.
Christopher Cronk, 58, of Central Square, admitted in Onondaga County Court to being employed while collecting the benefits, according to a news release from the state Office of the Inspector General.
Cronk began receiving wage replacement benefits through the state Workers’ Compensation Board shortly after he injured his ankle in March 2021 while working as a painter for Cutting Edge Painting in Webster.
Those benefits are meant for workers who cannot earn a paycheck while they recover from an injury.
By March 2022, Cronk had gone back to work with private properties and businesses, a fact confirmed by surveillance footage, witness statements and bank records, officials said.
Cronk, however, continued to tell his insurance carrier that he was not working.
In April and May 2022, he submitted official work activity forms where he falsely answered “no” when asked whether he had performed any work for pay since his injury, officials said.
Through August 2022, he collected a total of $10,494 in benefits he was not entitled to, officials said.
He pleaded guilty to third-degree insurance fraud.
He was arrested by State Police in North Syracuse on Dec. 10 and charged with the following, according to online court records:
- Third-degree grand larceny, two counts
- Third-degree insurance fraud
- Intent to defraud, four counts
- Fraudulent insurance practices, three counts
