Wash. couple charged with fraud

A Washington couple faces an excess of criminal charges, including the alleged falsification of payroll records to avoid paying workers’ compensation premiums, among others.

Clark County prosecutors have filed charges against Larry J. and Phyllis Ann Brossard, owners of trucking firm Bandit Express. The couple pleaded not guilty. The Brossards are charged with falsifying payroll records to avoid paying over $224,000 in taxes, which included the amount owed for workers’ comp premiums owed for employees of the several companies the Brossards own, including Brossard Excavating and Bumper Boats.

Further investigation revealed the couple was also allegedly growing marijuana.

The ongoing investigation, conducted by Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), recently turned up another company owned by the couple. It was reported that an audit of that company revealed that between August 2000 and March 2002 the Brossards allegedly knowingly misrepresented to L&I the number of hours worked and the amount of their payroll for drivers working at Bandits Express.

The L&I criminal workers’ comp case is expected to go to trial on July 15.

Clark County Superior Court Judge John Wulle ruled that the marijuana charges against the couple be tried in a separate case. That trial is scheduled for April 15.