Recent Posts in FRAUD Category

A Murrieta roofing contractor pled guilty in the Orange County Superior Court to 16 felony counts involving perjury, filing false documents and making false statements in connection with workers’ compensation fraud. 

According to prosecutors, the defendant failed to provide adequate workers’ compensation  insurance for his employees and denied that one employee, who fell from a roof, worked for him which resulted in denial of benefits to that injured worker.

While the charges carried a possible maximum sentence of over 21 years in state prison, as a part of the plea bargain, the defendant is expected to receive three years.     

Federal conspiracy charges have been filed against a man purporting to own and operate a university in Fullerton.  According to reports, ICE authorities believe the man created the allegedly fictitious school simply to serve as a front for student visa fraud. 

An almost year-long investigation revealed a student roster of over 300 students, however, only a few class schedules were able to be produced.  The investigation further revealed students rarely attended classes, if at all, and the presence of teachers at the school was non-existent.  The man also allegedly staged a fake graduation ceremony in order to keep up the ruse. 

Based upon the statements of over 30 students arrested and interviewed in connection with the investigation, the man is said to have collected anywhere from $600 to $10,000 from each individual student in exchange for, not an education, but rather documentation needed to obtain a visa.   Overall, it is estimated the man received in excess of $400,000 as a result of the scam.  He faces 5 years in prison if convicted.