BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) – In a little noted appearance before the Illinois House Appropriations-Public Safety Committee, the director of the Department of Corrections said millions of dollars in workers compensation payments to Menard prison guards were obtained fraudulently.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports Tony Godinez last month told the committee some of the guards claimed injury from turning keys. He went on to say that in the years he has worked in corrections, including 12 years as warden at Stateville Correctional Center, he has never seen claims like he’s seen since becoming director.

Godinez was responding to questions from Rep. Dwight Kay, R-Glen Carbon, during an April 18 hearing.

Godinez noted there is no reason for keys at Menard, a maximum security facility, to be turned more than at minimum or medium security facilities.

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