California Vocational School Owner Charged With Fraud in Workers’ Comp Scheme

The owner of a Fresno, California-based for-profit vocational school was charged with engaging in fraudulent billing practices related to workers’ compensation.

Paul Steve Ramirez, 59, was charged with 11 felony counts, including insurance fraud. The fraudulent insurance claims could reach up to $200,000.

Ramirez owns P. Steve Ramirez Vocational Training Centers, a private post-secondary institution and Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit training provider. SJDB vouchers provide up to $6,000 for retraining to injured workers with a permanent partial disability and are unable to return to work at their employer. He owns a second business that provides vocational counseling.

Authorities allege that Ramirez gained access to students at the counseling center and then self-referred them to his educational institution to maximize his billing. They found Ramirez fraudulently collected SJDB voucher funds for 37 students and billed insurers for services even though the students did not meet the minimum qualifications.

The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.