Former Crystal Lake cop charged with fraud

Feb. 26--A former Crystal Lake police officer has been indicted on charges of fraud for allegedly claiming worker's compensation for a wrist injury while he was lifting weights at the police station.

Michael Avila, 33, of Crystal Lake, was arraigned Tuesday on charges of workers' compensation fraud, insurance fraud, theft of government property, and theft by deception, authorities said. The charges are felonies punishable by probation or up to seven years in prison.

Video surveillance cameras showed Avila lifting weights at the police station in the month following his report of an injury to his wrist and his assignment to light duty, according to the Illinois Department of Insurance, which conducted the investigation.

Video also showed Avila working as a personal trainer while on light duty, as well as after he was taken off work completely several months later due to an alleged aggravation of the injury, according to a news release from the department.

Avila filed for worker's compensation in October 2012, and made statements to create the impression that his injury was more serious than it really was, according to the release. The case later was voluntarily dismissed.

The Illinois Attorney General's office is prosecuting the case in McHenry County Circuit Court.

Avila is free while awaiting prosecution. He and his attorney, Sam Amirante, were not immediately available for comment.

Crystal Lake police honored Avila with a lifesaving award in 2010 for helping to prevent an unstable person from killing himself.

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