A 58-year-old San Mateo man pleaded no contest to workers’ compensation fraud and failure to pay insurance for defrauding the state out of $232,369 in insurance premiums and taxes by failing to report at least nine employees at his business, Trans One Moving Company, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.
The man, Adolfo Orellana, was also an employee at the San Mateo County Public Works Department, the DA’s Office said. He’d obtained a workers’ compensation policy from the state but fraudulently reported zero payroll from 2021 to 2025, according to Wagstaffe.
A judge ruled that Orellana could have his sentenced reduced to a misdemeanor if he paid the full restitution upon sentencing, a decision Wagstaffe said he was concerned by because it allows wealthier individuals to pay their way out of a felony and poorer individuals to receive heavier sentences.
“The general concept of lesser sentences or reduction to misdemeanor if a person pays the restitution causes me grave concern,” Wagstaffe said.
Orellana’s sentencing hearing is set for April 28 and he faces up to 6 months in jail.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
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PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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