Four Californians Charged With 144 Felonies in Workers’ Comp Case

Four owners and managers of an Orange County, Calif., demolition company have been charged with 144 felony counts in what prosecutors are calling a multimillion-dollar workers’ compensation fraud case.

Orange County prosecutors say the defendants at Democo Inc. claimed they only had one full-time and one part-time employee, and failed to get workers’ comp insurance for dozens of employees.

The owners, Joseph and Kimberly Soares, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, perjury, grand theft, forgery, identity theft, and making false statements to discourage workers from claiming benefits and income tax fraud.

General manager James Campbell and his son Robert Campbell are also charged in the case.

Democo is based in Orange.