Farm labor contractor arraigned in comp fraud scheme
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A Stockton, California-based farm labor contractor was arraigned on 15 felony counts of insurance fraud, grand theft and tax evasion on Thursday after allegedly underreporting payroll by over $1 million.
In March 2019, the California Department of Insurance received notice from an insurance company alleging Alfredo Casas of reporting no payroll for his business, AC Farm Ag Inc., to receive a reduced rate for workers compensation insurance. His crimes allegedly resulted in significant losses for two insurance companies and the State Compensation Insurance Fund, according to the Department of Insurance.
A joint investigation and search warrant service conducted by the Department of Insurance and San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office discovered the accused failed to disclose payroll, previous insurance claims, and policy cancellations and failed to provide correct job descriptions for his employees, documents state.
Mr. Casas also operated his business under a different name for over two years, using forged Certificates of Insurance, forged Department of Industrial Relations Farm Labor Contractor permits, forged San Joaquin County Agriculture permits and documents he obtained from the state’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency by fraud.
Mr. Casas was convicted of similar fraud charges in 2012, in which his business was found uninsurable by State Fund. Mr. Casas continued business operations after allegedly renaming and restructuring his business using family members to serve as its officers, allowing him to obtain new workers compensation insurance policies.
Mr. Casas is scheduled to return to court on February 10, 2022, for further arraignment. The case is prosecuted by the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office.
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