The man inside one of the breakdancing hamsters in the celebrated Kia Soul commercials is in trouble. It turns out that while he was inside that ridiculous costume getting paid to do the running man he was also allegedly collecting disability money from the State of California.
(Kia Soul Commercial)
Leroy Barnes, 27, of Los Angeles, was arrested on charges related to his alleged fraudulent collection of state disability insurance benefits.
Barnes received compensation from September 2010 to September 2011, totaling more than $51,000, according to the California Department of Insurance. He stated that he was not employed during the year he received state disability insurance. But the departments’ detectives obtained evidence that Barnes was actually dancingworking while collecting benefits.
"Fraudulently collecting disability benefits is not only illegal, it disrespects legitimately injured Californians who are unable to work," said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones in a statement.
Barnes also performed in a rap group called The Rej3ctz under the alias MoWii, according to the state agency. He also worked as a backup dancer for Madonna, Kelly Rowland, and Chris Brown under the name Hypnosis.
Insurance fraud is a felony punishable by up to five years in California state prison and a $50,000 fine.