Viking Pavers Owner Pleads To Workers' Compensation Felonies

RICHMOND, CA – The Owner of Viking Pavers pleaded no contest to six felonies in a workers' compensation and payroll tax fraud case.

Maurosan Milhomem also admitted to a white collar crime enhancement that he caused the loss of more than $500,000, according to a release from the District Attorney's Office. Viking Pavers is a construction company based out of Point Richmond.

“This investigation demonstrated a strong working relationship with our partners that resulted in a successful prosecution in this case. We need to ensure employers follow state law and protect their employees. The defendant explicitly ran fraudulent schemes to avoid paying taxes and ultimately jeopardizing the health and safety of his workers,” said Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton in a prepared statement.

In 2017, the Contractors' State Licensing Board and Department of Industrial Relations issued the company a civil citations. Investigators from the District Attorney's office discovered a subcontractor work crew operating for the company without a license and without worker compensation insurance under the name FF Services during a random job site inspection.

The District Attorney's office was made aware of the fraud after employees of Viking Pavers were involved in a car crash. The employees were never reported during premium audits and employees or contractors, officials said.

An investigation showed the company continued to use FF Services as an unlicensed subcontractor after the civil citations and throughout 2018. According to the DA's office, the company rerouted the payments off the books to avoid detection during audits. Forensic accountants traced payments to FF Services and other unlicensed and uninsured work crews and a search warrant at the business resulted in the seizure of over $80,000 in cash.

Milhomem will serve 364 days in county jail and will serve five years probation.