Post Falls man pleads guilty to felony workers compensation fraud
Thursday July 31, 2025Contact: Julie Robinson, 208-334-4312
julie.robinson@doi.idaho.gov
BOISE, ID (July 31, 2025) – The Idaho Department of Insurance (DOI) announced today that Mark Chafin, of Post Falls, Idaho, has pleaded guilty to one count of felony insurance fraud in connection with a workers compensation claim. The plea follows an investigation led by the DOI’s Fraud Investigation Unit.
Chafin was injured while employed at Wenig Foods in Post Falls and began receiving disability payments through his workers compensation insurance with the Idaho State Insurance Fund (SIF). However, despite returning to work for a different employer only a few months later, Chafin continued to collect full disability payments and failed to notify SIF of his employment status.
Further investigation revealed that Chafin not only failed to report his return to work but also denied it on multiple occasions when questioned by a SIF claims examiner. The DOI’s fraud unit determined that Chafin wrongfully received more than $7,500 in disability benefits to which he was not entitled.
On July 16, 2025, Chafin was sentenced in Ada County to:
- Up to three years of prison, suspended in favor of supervised probation
- 20 days in the county jail, with an additional 90 days of discretionary jail time
- Restitution payment
“Insurance fraud drives up costs for all Idahoans and undermines the integrity of our system,” said Dean L. Cameron, Director of the Idaho Department of Insurance. “We remain committed to aggressively investigating and prosecuting those who attempt to abuse it.”
The Department of Insurance encourages the public to report suspected insurance fraud through its website or by contacting the DOI Fraud Division directly.
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About the Department of Insurance
The Idaho Department of Insurance has been regulating the business of insurance in Idaho since 1901. The mission of the Department is to serve and protect Idahoans by equitably, effectively and efficiently administering the Idaho Insurance Code and the International Fire Code. For more information, please visit us at doi.idaho.gov or contact consumeraffairs@doi.idaho.gov.