Olympia dry cleaner admits to stealing $21K in workers comp benefits

OLYMPIA, Wash. — A dry cleaner in Olympia admitted to stealing $21,000 in worker’s compensation benefits, according to a report from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.

Byung Sung Kang, 54, pleaded guilty Wednesday to third-degree theft in Thurston County Superior Court.

Kang was ordered to repay $21,725, the amount in worker’s compensation he admitted to stealing over 14 months, when he claimed his on-the-job injury was so severe that he couldn’t work – at the same time he was running his business, Century Cleaners.

He was also ordered to serve two years’ probation.

Kang told medical providers he was resting at home, but investigators caught him lifting heavy loads of clothing, hanging and bundling garments and performing other physical tasks at his dry-cleaning shop.

The court ordered Kang to repay the $21,725 over the next two years, in payments of at least $905 a month.

©2021 Cox Media Group