Two Businessmen Guilty Again of Failing to Obtain WC Coverage
Tuesday, November 27, 2018 | 0
Two Ohio business owners -- both repeat offenders -- have pleaded guilty to shirking workers' compensation coverage, according to the Bureau of Workers' Compensation.
James Wilson, 52, of New Albany, pleaded guilty this month to failure to comply after investigators found that his paving business did not carry workers' comp coverage for its employees, the BWC's Special Investigations said.
His plea came nine years after he was convicted of a felony charge of defrauding the bureau and was required to pay $180,000 in restitution.
“We attempted to work with Mr. Wilson to bring his business into compliance with Ohio law, but ultimately we had to go with this course of action,” said Jim Wernecke, director of BWC’s special investigations department. “I can’t say this enough to employers in our system: If you’re struggling with your BWC premiums, reach out to our agency and work with us. Don’t risk a criminal conviction.”
Wilson's sentencing has not been scheduled.
Also this month, the owner of a food warehouse and market in Cleveland pleaded guilty to fraud after lapsed payments on a 2014 conviction.
Yue Liang agreed to pay the bureau $5,500 toward the balance he owed for failure to obtain comp coverage, plus an additional $2,000 in restitution. He was sentenced to one year of community control and was ordered to bring his policy into compliance, the bureau announced.
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