On Nov. 1, Bakersfield residents Lonzoe Richard Hart, 64, and Barbara Jean Cornelius, 52, were arrested on workers’ compensation fraud charges.
Hart and Cornelius were booked into Kern County Jail on 23 felony counts following an 18-month investigation by the CDI’s Criminal Investigations Bureau, the Kern County District Attorney’s Office, the Department of Motor Vehicles and auditors from the Employment Development Department (EDD), which revealed underreporting of wages paid to employees.
The complaint alleges that Hart and Cornelius made misrepresentations of wages paid to employees to the State Compensation Insurance Fund and EDD.
It further alleges that the two conspired to misrepresent facts to State Fund, causing a loss of more than $35,000 in premiums. EDD auditors assessed more than $69,000 for underreported payroll taxes and penalties.
If convicted, Hart and Cornelius could face up to 19 years in state prison. Bail for each was set at $25,000.
The Kern County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Kyle Busch and Wife Settle Lawsuit With Pacific Life and Insurance Agent 
Greek Oil Tanker Exits Hormuz Shipping Strait With Signal Off 
Chubb to Serve as Lead US Insurer for Gulf Shipping Amid Iran War 
Travelers Stranded by War Learn Insurance Won’t Cover Flight Cancellations From This Issue
