Santa Maria, Calif. Man Arrested on Multiple Counts of Felony Workers’ Comp Fraud

Juan Antonio Acuna, 41, of Santa Maria, Calif. surrendered to authorities on Sept. 12, 2002, and was charged with seven felony counts of workers’ compensation insurance fraud, three counts of perjury, and one count of attempted perjury.

The California Department of Insurance (CDI) investigation surrounds a work related injury claim filed by Acuna in Aug. 2001 while working in the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Work Alternate Program at the Santa Barbara Fairgrounds. Acuna was at the work program as part of a sentence for a driving on a suspended license charge. Acuna, previously a licensed concrete contractor, reportedly continued to do concrete contracting and labor while claiming he was unable to work while on total temporary disability status.

Acuna was reportedly videotaped working at numerous job sites during the time he claimed he was disabled. Acuna reportedly denied that he was working to both an insurance investigator and a risk analyst for Santa Barbara County Risk Management. Additionally, he allegedly falsely testified in a sworn deposition about his activities.

Acuna pled not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. He faces up to $50,000 in fines and/or five years in state prison for the insurance fraud charges.