Jacksonville Contractor Charged With Underreporting Payroll by $2 Million

Florida authorities have charged a Jacksonville contractor with underreporting payroll by almost $2 million and stiffing his workers’ compensation insurer for almost $300,000 in premiums.

Carlos Antonio Maradiago Garcia, 50, a native of Honduras, was investigated by the Florida Department of Financial Services for insurance fraud allegedly committed in 2021, 2022 and 2023, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s arrest report.

Maradiago was arrested at his lawyer’s office in March and booked into jail. He then posted bail and pleaded not guilty this week.

The insurance carrier was not listed. Details about how the investigation came about were not included in the arrest report or in an announcement from Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, posted Thursday. Ingoglia’s bulletin said it is the latest crackdown on illegal immigrants in Florida. Maradiago and his attorney could not be immediately reached for comment Thursday morning.

Florida Secretary of State corporation records show the contractor’s company, Carlos Maradiaga LLC, was incorporated in 2016. Another company, Carlos Siding Solutions, in Jacksonville, was registered in 2023.

If convicted of the alleged fraud, the contractor could face deportation or up to 30 years in prison. Records show that at the time of his arrest, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement held an order of removal for Maradiaga.