By Nathan Duke
Residents from Astoria, Corona, Jamaica, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Queens Village, Broad Channel, Floral Park and Elmhurst were arrested after they allegedly cheated the state by either receiving benefits while they were working or operating a business without proper compensation insurance, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
The defendants were arraigned last week in Queens Criminal Court on charges of grand larceny, insurance fraud, falsifying business records, offering a false instrument for filing, criminal possession of a forged instrument and workers compensation violations, the DA said.
If convicted, they face sentences ranging from four to 15 years in prison, Brown said.The DA's office, the state Insurance Departments Insurance Frauds Bureau and the state Workers' Compensation Board made the arrests after a seven-month investigation.”Those who try to defraud the system should be held accountable so honest businesses do not bear the burden of these costs,” state Insurance Department Superintendent-designate Eric Dinello said. Fernando Gonzalez, 46, of 54-09 90th St. in Elmhurst, began receiving benefits in June 1992 after being injured at Maspeth's Certified Automatic Transmission, where he worked as a mechanic, Brown said. But Gonzalez allegedly worked as a van driver in January 2006 and did not notify the Workers' Compensation Board, collecting $15,780 in benefits for six months, the DA said. Farouk Ali, 48, of 114-44 127th St. in South Ozone Park, had received benefits since December 1994 after being injured as a packer at Laminall Inc. in Long Island City, but allegedly began selling ladies' clothing at the Aqueduct Flea Market, Brown said.
Joseph Ambrosino, 42, of 220-24 93rd Ave. in Queens Village, was charged with operating Joe's Flooring Corp. in Queens Village after presenting a forged workers' compensation insurance certificate to a general contractor from Manhattan, the DA said.
Vicari Girolamo, 62, of 79-15 265th St. in Floral Park, was charged after he failed to notify the board that he was allegedly working in the construction industry between 2003 and 2005 after he began receiving benefits in 1983, Brown said.Other defendants were identified as James Vaslos, 65, of 25-40 Steinway St. in Astoria; Carlos Zumba, 47, of 40-29 99th St. in Corona; Lauretta King, 46, 170-34 130th Ave. in Jamaica; Vincent Jefferes, 44, of 12-02 Cross Bay Blvd. in Broad Channel; and Shahinul Khasru, 47, of 97-03 82nd St. in Ozone Park, the DA said.
Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
