Business Owner Pleads Guilty in Premium Fraud Case

The owner of a Southern California gardening company pleaded guilty to misrepresenting the number of people he employers to reduce his workers’ compensation premiums, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced. Jose Velasquez, 51, owned and operated Velasquez Gardening in Ojai from March 1, 2015, through March 1, 2020. During this time, prosecutors said he underreported his employees, resulting in an underpayment on his workers’ compensation premiums that totaled $30,483. Velasquez pleaded guilty to two counts of felony insurance fraud on Wednesday. He had alr...