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It was a busy month for the Monetrey County District attorney who reports two convictions for uninsured employers in March.

The District Attorney announced that Vanessa Lizeth Aguilar, a 37-yearold Soledad resident who owns a cannabis delivery service in Salinas, was sentenced to 3 years’ probation for failing to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Ms. Aguilarto was ordered pay a $3,500 fine and she faces up to 1-year in county jail and additional fines if she violates her probation.

Ms. Aguilar owns Golden Essentials Delivery. Her company, which has 8 employees, began doing business, under state and city licensing, on January 1, 2018. Since she has employees, California law requires that Ms. Aguilar maintain workers’ compensation insurance.

While she initially did have workers’ compensation insurance, her policy with the State Compensation Insurance Fund expired on March 26, 2018.

On June 27, 2018, Monterey County District Attorney Investigators asked Ms. Aguilar to provide verification that she had workers’ compensation insurance.

She conceded that she did not have a policy, which is a misdemeanor under California Labor Code section 3700.5.

The District Attorney filed criminal charges on October 30, 2018. The case was investigated by District Attorney Investigators George Costaand Steve Guidi.

Also in March, the Monterey County District attorney announced that Jorge Luis Calvo Padilla, a 46-year old Seaside resident, was sentenced to 3 years’ probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine for failing to carry workers’ compensation insurance.

Mr. Padilla faces up to 1-year in county jail and additional fines if he violates his probation.

On June 18, 2018, the Contractor State Licensing Board (‘CSLB’) investigated a report of unlicensed construction at a property located at Camino Del Monte 4 NW of San Carlos in Carmel by the Seas.

At the property, CSLB investigators observed 2 men constructing a wooden deck behind the residence. Mr. Padilla was identified as the contractor on the project and admitted that he was not a licensed contractor. In addition, Mr. Padilla admitted that he had hired a worker to help with the deck.

On October 30, 2018, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Workers Compensation Fraud Unit charged Mr. Padilla with unlicensed contracting in violation of Business & Professions Code section 7028(a) and not having workers ‘compensation insurance, a violation of Labor Code section 3700.5.

Both offenses are misdemeanors. The case was investigated by the Contractor State Licensing Board.