The owner of a National City janitorial service who pleaded guilty to insurance fraud was ordered July 9 to perform 10 days public work service and pay $100,000 in restitution to his insurance company.
No jail time was ordered and Marco Castaneda, 46, was given credit for serving one day in jail by San Diego Superior Court Judge Timothy Walsh. Castaneda owns Quality Way Building Maintenance.
Castaneda showed up with a personal check for $7,000, but Walsh said he could not accept as it needed to be a cashier’s check. Castaneda’s lawyer said he would return to court this week with a cashier’s check.
Deputy District Attorney David Bagheri said the $100,000 restitution represents the amount that was defrauded in his misrepresentation of the number of workers he reported. Once he pays the full restitution, the DA’s office has agreed to reduce the felony to a misdemeanor. Three similar insurance fraud charges were dismissed after his guilty plea on Feb. 26.
