Originally Syndicated on June 13, 2024 @ 9:40 am
Chris Rapczynski, the head of two Boston-based construction companies, Sleeping Dog Properties and New England Construction Resources, has been charged with multiple counts of workers’ compensation fraud, according to Attorney General Maura Healey’s release. Chris Rapczynski, 48, of Andover, Massachusetts, owns these two enterprises.
On Monday, a Suffolk County grand jury returned the indictment, which included six counts of workers’ compensation fraud, one count of failure to provide workers’ compensation insurance, and five counts of theft exceeding $250. Rapczynski will be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court shortly. The state’s Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) launched the investigation that resulted in these accusations.
Healey voiced concern about the consequences of businesses failing to obtain workers’ compensation insurance, highlighting the hazards to workers and the financial strain on other businesses. She agreed to work with the IFB to investigate and prosecute people who engage in such fraudulent acts for personal gain.
Anthony M. DiPaolo, Chief of Investigations at the Insurance Fraud Bureau, reiterated this attitude, emphasizing the dedication of both the IFB and the Attorney General’s office to combating fraud instances like this. He stressed the detrimental effects of premium avoidance on the system and honest enterprises.
Chris Rapczynski, co-owner and president of Sleeping Dog Properties (SDP), founded the company in 1997. Investigators determined that from 2004 to 2006, SDP filed 11 claims with their workers’ compensation insurer, resulting in a large rise in the company’s premium payments. Authorities claim Rapczynski stopped paying workers’ compensation payments on behalf of SDP and formed a new company, New England Construction Resources (NECR).
NECR purports to hire a small group of construction foremen and supervisors, who are subsequently “leased” for huge construction projects. However, investigators claim that NECR does not use or offer insurance to the actual workers on these projects.
Authorities argue that NECR and SDP are the same employer. Rapczynski allegedly founded NECR with the sole purpose of concealing and not releasing SDP’s labor and payroll data. Furthermore, it is claimed that SDP has employed a large number of construction workers each year since 2006, with a significant annual payroll, all while failing to maintain a proper workers’ compensation policy.
Rapczynski is charged with purposefully misleading auditors by concealing SDP’s lack of workers’ compensation insurance. As a result of this dishonest conduct, Rapczynski and NECR avoided paying $66,747 in workers’ compensation premiums.
It is important to emphasize that these charges are allegations, and the defendant is deemed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Attorney General Healey’s Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Unit is committed to protecting consumers and the integrity of the insurance system by investigating and prosecuting individuals who commit fraud against various insurers, including the Commonwealth’s unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation programs.
Assistant Attorney General Kristy Lavigne will prosecute this case, with help from Kimberly Medeiros of AG Healey’s Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Unit and investigators from the Insurance Fraud Bureau.
About Chris Rapczynski?
Chris Rapczynski has a quarter-century of expertise in the building industry. Rapczynski states that he has never wavered in his commitment to maintaining excellent construction quality and ethical business methods throughout his career. His responsibilities include managing the company’s growth and success, with a special emphasis on business development and building new client partnerships.
Under his leadership, Sleeping Dog Properties, Inc. has successfully handled building and expansion projects worth more than $200 million. Rapczynski prioritizes building a good and equitable work environment, providing equal opportunity to all project participants within the firm.
About Sleeping Dog Properties:
Sleeping Dog Properties, founded in 1992 by Chris Rapczynski, is a construction firm that specializes on high-profile projects. The company, situated in the Greater Boston area, has received recognition from General Contractors Magazine, cementing its position as one of Cambridge, Massachusetts’ leading general contracting organizations.
At the heart of Sleeping Dog Properties’ success is an uncompromising commitment to a client-centric service model and ground-breaking solutions for improving construction project efficiency. Their revolutionary building management system integrates the expertise of professional tradespeople and craftsmen. Sleeping Dog Properties’ main competitors include Dollman Construction Inc., Millbrook-Construction, Advanced Development and Building Services LLC, and Marwood.
Wrapping it up:
Finally, Chris Rapczynski, president of Sleeping Dog Properties and New England Construction Resources, has been indicted on multiple counts of workers’ compensation fraud. The indictment alleges workers’ compensation fraud, refusal to provide workers’ compensation insurance and theft. The inquiry was launched by the state’s Insurance Fraud Bureau, and Attorney General Maura Healey has expressed worry about the risks and financial burden that businesses that fail to get workers’ compensation insurance can face.
