Ohio Business Owner Sentenced for Lapsed Workers’ Comp Coverage

A Ohio business owner was ordered to pay $3,500 in connection with lapsed workers’ compensation coverage. Ronald G. Larlham pleaded guilty May 12 in Portage County Municipal Court to workers’ compensation fraud, a first-degree misdemeanor.

The BWC’s compliance department referred the matter to the Special Investigations Department’s Employer Fraud Team (EFT) after Larlham continued to operate his business, RGS Automotive in Ravenna, with lapsed workers’ compensation coverage. He had failed to work with the compliance department to bring the company’s policy back into compliance. EFT agents then made numerous attempts to bring the company’s policy back into compliance. The case was referred to the Portage County Prosecutor’s Office.

Larlham was sentenced to serve 180 days in jail, of which 179 days were suspended and credit was given for one day served. He was ordered to pay $3,503.14 in restitution to the BWC; it will be paid through the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

Source: Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation