Former Roseville businessman Gregory J. Chmielewski had what seemed like a brilliant idea: Create an alternative low-cost version of workers’ compensation insurance, at a time when the price for traditional coverage was soaring out of sight in California. Chmielewski was one of a handful of entrepreneurs who thought they could profit from the crisis by partnering with Indian tribes. He convinced the Fort Independence Community of Paiute Indians, in Inyo County, to bankroll a company that would offer discount coverage by using tribal laws to cut through the red tape plaguing the state-run system.
The company they created, Independent Staffing Solutions of Roseville, signed up dozens of clients but fell apart after four years in business. Independent Staffing was unable to pay its bills despite hauling in $225 million in revenue from employers during its brief life.
What went wrong? In a written plea agreement filed in U.S. District Court in Sacramento, Chmielewski said he siphoned $7.3 million from Independent Staffing in order to fund his personal real estate investments.
And last week he was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. to three years and five months in prison for mail fraud in connection with his misappropriation of funds from his insurance business into his own personal accounts for his personal use,
Chmielewski set up a professional employer organization called Independent Management Resources (IMR), later operating under the name Management Resources Group (MRG). He diverted and misappropriated millions of dollars from MRG accounts for his personal use. He caused over $7.3 million to be paid out of MRG’s accounts to other unrelated companies that he controlled. Eventually, the company experienced serious cash flow problems and was forced to cease operations, leaving approximately 117 injured workers with approximately $1.8 million in unpaid claims.
Acting U.S. Attorney Talbert stated: “Many of the victims harmed in this scheme were companies in California’s construction industry, whose employees worked as roofers, general laborers, and other jobs where injuries can occur. The defendant’s actions left many injured workers without the benefits they expected and deserved. Our office is committed to prosecuting large-scale schemes such as this that hurt employers and workers alike.”
“The license to operate a business is not a license to steal from those whom you are hired to protect,” said Cindy S. Chen, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation. “The misconduct of Chmielewski harmed those that needed his help during a time they were very vulnerable. Today’s sentence demonstrates IRS Criminal Investigation’s determination to combat financial fraud in all types of schemes.”
This case was the product of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation; and the California Department of Insurance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heiko P. Coppola and André Espinosa prosecuted the case.