First Felony Conviction Won Against Uninsured Employer in Illinois

For the first time, an uninsured employer has been convicted of a Class 4 felony for failing to obtain workers’ compensation insurance in Illinois, the state workers’ compensation commission announced.

Ahmed Ghosien, d/b/a Ghosien European Auto Werks in Hometown, was first contacted in 2010 about his lack of insurance, according to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.

He agreed to get insurance and pay a fine for noncompliance, but he never made payments and the insurance was cancelled for nonpayment. He was indicted in 2012, and the case was continued several times until he finally pled guilty on July 25.

His sentencing date is in October. Class 4 felony penalties are one to three years in penitentiary and/or fines up to $25,000.

The IWCC’s Insurance Compliance Unit worked for more than one year with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Special Prosecutions Division on the case.

Source: IWCC