LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Workforce Commission today announced a plea bargain in the case of a Lafayette business owner who was arrested in late 2009 on charges of insurance and workers’ compensation fraud.
Mauro Aguirre of Lafayette, owner of Escapade Acoustic Drywall, pleaded guilty on April 12 to insurance and workers’ compensation fraud. He was sentenced in the 15th Judicial District Court to two years of imprisonment, which was suspended, three years of probation and 30 hours of community service.
Aguirre also was ordered to pay restitution of $200,000 to the state of Louisiana, along with court costs. The LWC received $100,000 for workers’ compensation criminal fines and unemployment insurance taxes, while the Louisiana Department of Revenue receives $95,000 and the Attorney General’s office receives $5,000.
Aguirre, along with his wife, Keren, was arrested in September 2009 after the Louisiana Insurance Task Force received a tip that the couple had not accurately reported the number of employees or their company’s total payroll during 2007 or 2008. The company reported around 35 employees, with a payroll of about $145,347, when it should have reported more than 300 employees and a payroll of more than $4.2 million.
Source: Louisiana Workforce Commission