Highland man convicted of workers' comp fraud must pay $2.4M restitution

The proprietor of a San Bernardino-area janitorial business found guilty of fraud last year was ordered to pay over $2.4 million in restitution in March while serving two years of felony probation, officials said last week.

Almirante Perez, 45, of Highland owned Southern Pacific Janitorial Group, San Bernardino County District

Attorney’s officials said in a news release Friday. He pleaded no contest to one count of felony workers’ compensation fraud with a criminal enhancements for aggravated white collar crime on May 18, 2021, per the terms of an agreement with prosecutors.

He admitted he had failed to pay for workers’ compensation insurance and was underreporting payroll for multiple years, district attorney’s officials said.

He was ordered to pay $2,407,573 to the California Employment Development Department, Republic Underwriters, Berkshire Hathaway and Liberty mutual.