Salvatore Carbone, 58, pleaded no contest to insurance fraud and will serve 40 days in Monterey County Jail.

Carbone, a Sand City resident, has owned and operated Sal’s Alley Side Cafe and Carbone’s Bar in Monterey since 2007.

The Workers’ Compensation Fraud Unit at the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office received a tip in June 2017 that Carbone had presented to his workers’ compensation carrier – State Compensation Insurance Fund – that he had no employees for the insurance policy period of August 2014 through August 2015.

Investigators with the District Attorney’s Office obtained business and payroll records and interviewed Carbone, his employees and his accountant.

The District Attorney’s Office concluded the evidence showed Carbone intentionally misrepresented his payroll in order to obtain a lower insurance premium from the State Compensation Insurance Fund.

Carbone pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor Wednesday and Judge Stephen Sillman sentenced him to 40 days in county jail, three years probation and suspended a $10,000 statutory penalty, which will remain suspended if he complies with the conditions of his probation.

The District Attorney’s Office said that business owners and the public need to be aware that California law requires all employers to secure workers’ compensation insurance for their employees so there is adequate medical coverage and benefits for employees for any work-related injuries that may occur.

Making a material misrepresentation to obtain a lower workers’ compensation insurance premium has a maximum penalty of five years and a fine of up to double the amount of the fraud.