UPS Mechanic Pleads to Workers’ Comp Fraud

DATE : June 18, 2026

CASE: Derrick Hodge (Case #25FE023089)

PROSECUTOR: Deputy District Attorney John MacKenzie, Insurance Fraud Unit

Derrick Hodge pled to felony insurance fraud and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, 2 years of formal probation and was ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution to Liberty Mutual Insurance.

Derrick Hodge was a mechanic at the United Parcel Service (UPS) facility in Grass Valley. On March 3, 2023, Hodge claimed he was injured while walking out of a door at the UPS facility when a "microwave-sized" chunk of ice fell from the roof and struck him on the back of his head and neck. Hodge sought medical treatment from multiple physicians for injuries resulting from the incident. He was eventually placed off work due to his complaints. In 2025, the Sacramento County District Attorney's Insurance Fraud Unit began an investigation after being informed that Hodge was suspected of filing a false injury claim. Video surveillance from the date and time of the reported incident showed that nothing fell from the UPS facility roof and Hodge was not injured. In addition, surveillance video after the claimed incident showed him engaging in activities beyond what he told his doctors he could perform. These false statements resulted in losses of $50,000 to UPS and Liberty Mutual Insurance for coverage of worker's compensation insurance.

Insurance fraud of this nature increases the cost of insurance premiums for businesses, and this results in higher process for consumers. False claims also put additional strain on the workers' compensation system, leading to slower processing times for legitimate claims.