‘Yellowstone’ actress charged Q’orianka Kilcher with $96k workers’ compensation fraud

The actress has appeared in four episodes of 'Yellowstone' Season 3 which aired in 2020

PUBLISHED JUL 12, 2022

Q'orianka Kilcher in a still from 'Yellowstone' (IMDb)

'Yellowstone' actress Q’orianka Kilcher is now facing criminal charges for allegedly collecting disability benefits although she was able to work. She has been charged with two counts of felony of workers’ compensation fraud after allegedly collecting $96,838 in benefits following her injuries while filming 'Dora and the Lost City of Gold'.

However, investigators from the California Department of Insurance found out that Kilcher was healthy enough to work and even did so for 'Yellowstone' while she actually claimed that she was disabled. The charges were announced on Monday though she was arraigned and pled not guilty on May 27. Per a statement to Variety, her attorney refuted the allegations saying she “never intentionally accepted benefits that she did not believe she was entitled to.”

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“As such, Ms. Kilcher will vigorously defend herself and asks that she be afforded the presumption of innocence both in and outside the courthouse,” said the attorney, Michael Becker. The actress is best known for playing Pocahontas in 'The New World' and also starred in 'Dora'. She has appeared in four episodes of 'Yellowstone' Season 3 which aired in 2020. Investigations revealed that her wage statements said that she had worked on 'Yellowstone' from July to October 2019 just before seeking treatment she sustained while filming 'Dora'. The gig ended five days before she started to collect the benefits.

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“Third-party doctors verified her injury and entitlement to benefits,” Becker said in the statement. “Ms. Kilcher was at all times candid with her doctors and treatment providers.” The department added that he never approved the payments had he known of Kilcher's recent work history. Becker also insisted that she provided regular updates to her caseworker at the Division of Workers’ Compensation. Her next scheduled court date is August 7.

'Yellowstone' stars Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Wes Bentley, Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, and Gil Birmingham, The fifth season is slated to release on November 13, 2022.