Two Construction Firms Charged With Defrauding State Insurance Fund

The owners of two Queens construction companies have been charged with defrauding the New York State Insurance Fund out of more than $2.6 million in workers' compensation premiums. Manuel Sanchez, 50, of East Elmhurst, and his Lagos Construction Co. were charged last week after audits allegedly found that the company had falsified records and under-reported payroll from 2014 to 2018, the state Department of Financial Services announced. Sanchez shorted the fund more than $2.2 million in premiums and could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the alleged crimes, authorities said....