California limousine company owner charged with worker’s comp fraud

Gamlet Abramian, 47, of Porter Ranch, Calif., was arraigned last week on felony counts of workers’ compensation fraud after a California Department of Insurance investigation revealed he allegedly underreported payroll for businesses in order to save over $210,000 in insurance premiums.

Abramian owns or is involved in managing three limousine companies in the Los Angeles area: D&D Limo, Superior Enterprise, and On Time Coach Executive. The Department’s investigation began after the California Public Utilities Commission’s licensing unit noticed Abramian reported between five to 12 drivers, but either did not have a workers’ compensation insurance policy or reported zero employees to the insurance company.

The investigation found Abramian reported zero in employee payroll to the insurance company, allegedly in an attempt to save on workers’ compensation premiums. As part of the investigation, a search warrant was served to the companies’ banks, which showed the unreported payroll between June 2018 through September 2020. The unreported payroll resulted in $212,667 of unpaid premiums to the insurance company and left employees uninsured.

Abramian self-surrendered and was arraigned on Monday, June 13, 2022. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting this case.