A New York City-based masonry contractor and its owner were indicted Jan. 19 for a $7 million workers’ compensation fraud scheme.
Oneteam Restoration and its owner, Mario Rojas Jr., were indicted with insurance fraud and falsifying business records after filing false documents to the New York State Fund to save on premiums, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. via Patch.com.
Oneteam’s accountant, Steven Lyon, was also indicted under the same charges after filing the false documents to the insurance carrier.
The company, which specializes in building façade repairs and waterproofing, hired Lyon to prepare and file the company’s quarterly payroll reports and serve as a representative during annual audits.
Between January 2019 and May 2021, Lyon used separate emails to file payroll documents with the Department of Labor (DOL) and the New York State Fund. He allegedly sent accurate records to the DOL, but reduced the size of Oneteam’s workforce in files submitted to the New York State Fund.
Underreporting the payroll by more than $16 million led to Oneteam underpaying the insurance carrier by more than $7 million.
