Press Releases
01/16/2024
Connecticut Restaurant Owners Charged with Failure to Provide Workers’ Compensation Insurance Coverage
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Rocky Hill, CT) - Two restaurant owners arrested and charged this month with failing to provide required Workers’ Compensation insurance coverage for employees working in their restaurants are expected to appear in Superior Court this week.
Giovanni Rubano, age 52, of Newridge Avenue, Waterbury, and Hilario Taveras, age 55, of Red Maple Lane, Waterbury, were arrested on January 9, 2024 by Inspectors from the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Control Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney and each were charged with Criminal Liability in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-11 and Noncompliance with Insurance Requirements in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 31-288(f).
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Rubano, owner of Vintage 471 Restaurant in Watertown, failed to carry Workers’ Compensation insurance coverage for employees working in the restaurant for the time period between January 21, 2021 and November 10, 2022, and between November 10, 2022 and September 20, 2023.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Taveras, owner of Via Al Paraiso in Waterbury, failed to carry Workers’ Compensation insurance coverage for employees working in the restaurant from December 1, 2018 through October 24, 2022.
Connecticut state law requires businesses to demonstrate to the Workers’ Compensation Commission their solvency and financial ability to compensate injured employees or beneficiaries. Otherwise, the business must carry Workers’ Compensation insurance to cover the full liability.
Rubano was released on a $10,000.00 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court, G.A. No. 4, on January 17, 2024. Taveras was released on a $10,000.00 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court, G.A. No. 4, on January 17, 2024.
The case will be prosecuted by the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Control Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney. The Unit is grateful for the assistance it received in this investigation from the Connecticut Department of Labor – Wage & Workplace Standards Division, and the Rocky Hill Police Department.