CA Plumbing Contractor Fined : A California plumbing contractor has been ordered to pay $1 million in restitution to the State Compensation Insurance Fund after pleading guilty to workers’ compensation insurance fraud.
Fraud Discovery and Investigation
Daniela G. Birdwell, 41, owner of GPS Plumbing, admitted to underreporting payroll to reduce insurance premiums. A special investigation unit from the State Fund uncovered the fraud after noticing discrepancies between wages reported to the Employment Development Department (EDD) and those declared during policy audits.
A follow-up audit of GPS Plumbing’s workers’ compensation records revealed millions of dollars in unreported payroll. The State Fund’s Special Investigation Unit submitted its findings to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office and the California Department of Insurance, leading to prosecution. CA Plumbing Contractor Fined
Legal Consequences
Birdwell pleaded guilty to one count of workers’ compensation insurance premium fraud. A judge sentenced her to:
–Two years of formal felony probation
–320 hours of community service
–$1 million in restitution (payable in $10,000 monthly installments)
Source: Insurance Journal
Deputy District Attorney David Bagheri led the prosecution.
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