Santa Barbara – Two owners and an employee of many years’ standing of Santa Barbara County’s United Seal Coating were arrested on January 14th pursuant to multiple allegations of worker’s compensation fraud resulting from a protracted investigation at the hands of multiple law enforcement agencies.
Ron Bamieh, criminal defense attorney
Working in concert with the California Department of Insurance Fraud Division, the Franchise Tax board, the Employment Development Department, and the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Office has filed no less than 42 felony counts ranging from worker’s compensation fraud, fraudulent denial of worker’s compensation benefits, wage theft, and unspecified violations of the California Unemployment Insurance Code against company owners Alberto & Maria Rodriguez and their employee Bryon Duran.
In announcing the arrests to the media, a spokesperson at the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office, made a public appeal for any other victims of these frauds to come forward, stating “If you were employed by United Coating, United Seal Coating and Slurry Seal, Inc…and believe you were a victim…you are encouraged to contact the District Attorney’s Office.”
Ron Bamieh, a seasoned and expert criminal defense attorney retained by Duran and the Rodriguezes, countered the D.A.’s charges strongly, asserting that “The District Attorney has capitulated to several years of pressure from labor unions” in filing this case, adding that his clients have been the victims of “hounding” by competitors and labor unions supporting more costly job costs on the UCSB campus.
Arraignment of the defendants is scheduled for January 30th, with a hotly contested legal battle sure to follow.
Photos: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking, www.BamiehErickson.com
Read more:
Independent: Paving company owner, wife and employee charged
County of Santa Barbara: Office of the DA
