follow up on original article I have sent...about san mateo woman with rsd facing fraud

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Bay City News Wire <http://cbs5.com/localwire> FRAUDULENT SAN MATEO CO.

WORKER FAILS TO APPEAR FOR SENTENCING*01/04/06 2:15 PST*

A former San Mateo County collections employee failed to appear in a San

Mateo County courtroom today for her sentencing after a jury convicted her

of insurance fraud and attempted perjury in November.

Yolanda Dobkins, 54, who was convicted on four of the nine felony counts she

faced on Nov. 15, gave no notice to the court that she would not appear for

her sentencing today, prosecutor Alberti said.

" I have no idea " where she is, Alberti said.

Dobkins filed a false workers' compensation claim on Feb. 7, 2001, after

being hired as a county collections officer in 1998, Alberti said.

According to Alberti, Dobkins exaggerated the condition of her health more

than once throughout the course of the trial.

Dobkins has maintained throughout the entire trial that she suffers from

reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome. It is a neurological syndrome often

characterized by debilitating pain, according to the Reflex Sympathetic

Dystrophy Syndrome Association's Web site.

" RSD is supposed to be worse then carpal tunnel syndrome,'' Alberti said.

Dobkins, who first made mention of the pain in October 1998, said that the

ailment specifically hindered her ability to use her right hand, and that

she was unable to lift objects, drive her car or even shake people's hands,

according to Alberti.

The county denied Dobkins' claim, but did compensate her for her medical

expenses, which totaled $10,000, Alberti said.

The largest amount of money collected by Dobkins came from the state, which

gave her $24,000, Alberti said.

Immediately after the claim was filed, Alberti said the county hired private

investigators who repeatedly videotaped Dobkins doing things that she

claimed she was physically incapable of doing.

" We have tape of her washing her car by hand and she shows no pain or

resistance,'' Alberti said.

The tapes also show Dobkins jumping into the back of a truck and moving a

large box containing what looked like a grill, with both hands, according to

Alberti.

" If you truly have RSD then you are truly in pain,'' Alberti said.

Although a warrant for Dobkins arrest was not issued by Superior Court Judge

Craig Parsons at the time of the scheduled sentencing today, Alberti said

the possibility of issuing a warrant was taken " under submission " by the

judge.

As well, the $50,000 bail that Dobkins was released from custody on has now

been forfeited because of her failure to appear in court today, Alberti

said.

Dobkins is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 8 at 9 a.m.

http://www.cbs5.com/localwire/localfsnews/bcn/2006/01/04/n/HeadlineNews/DOBKINS-\

SENTENCING/resources_bcn_html

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