Miami, FL – Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis recently announced the arrest of Carlos Alberto Gomez-Ibarra, owner of Always Good Construction, for workers’ compensation premium fraud. Over the course of 10 months, Gomez-Ibarra allegedly evaded paying nearly $74,000 in workers’ compensation insurance premiums.
CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “I cannot emphasize the importance of providing the proper coverage for your employees. Knowingly evading the payment of workers’ compensation to save a few dollars on your policy is a serious crime that puts injured workers at risk and drives up insurance rates statewide for honest, hard-working businesses. I applaud the great work of our dedicated insurance fraud detectives and encourage anyone that suspects insurance fraud to report it to FraudFreeFlorida.com.”
An investigation by CFO Patronis’ Bureau of Investigative and Forensic Services, Division of Workers’ Compensation Fraud discovered Gomez-Ibarra allegedly concealed payroll information to avoid paying higher workers’ compensation premiums. The company allegedly conducted more than $442,000 in payroll between October 2015 and August 2016. Gomez-Ibarra originally reported an annual estimated remuneration of $92,400 in payroll on their workers’ compensation insurance policy for four employees. This coverage was estimated to cost over $15,000.
Carlos Alberto Gomez-Ibarra was booked into Turner Guilford knight Correctional Center on March 4 on a charge of Workers’ Compensation Premium Fraud. If convicted, Gomez-Ibarra faces up to 7 years in prison. Individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Source: FL DIFS