Staffing Agency Ordered to Pay 650,000 Dollars for Massive Workers Comp Fraud

A major Ventura County staffing agency has been hit with a massive financial penalty after a multi-year investigation revealed it operated for years without valid workers’ compensation insurance. Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced on January 16, 2026, that Man Staffing, LLC and its owners will pay 650,000 dollars in civil penalties and restitution. The company, owned by Miguel Angel Navarro and his daughters, provided temporary labor to more than a dozen local businesses while knowingly leaving hundreds of workers unprotected.

Fake Certificates and Stolen Policy Numbers

The investigation into Man Staffing revealed a brazen pattern of deception that spanned from 2015 through 2023. To land contracts with unsuspecting clients, the company created fraudulent certificates of insurance using stolen policy numbers. In other instances, they claimed to be covered by unlicensed out-of-state entities that had no legal authority to operate in California. One of these entities had even been served with a cease-and-desist order by the California Department of Insurance before Man Staffing attempted to "piggyback" on their non-existent coverage.

Even when attorneys representing injured workers repeatedly warned the company that their policies were fake, the owners continued the charade. Instead of using a licensed insurer to handle workplace injuries, the company paid settlements directly to employees under the table to avoid detection by state regulators. District Attorney Nasarenko noted that this scheme allowed the agency to undercut law-abiding competitors by avoiding the high costs of mandatory insurance premiums, all while putting the safety and financial security of their temporary staff at extreme risk.

Heavy Fines and Permanent Bans

The 650,000 dollar judgment includes 500,000 dollars in civil penalties and 150,000 dollars in restitution to the Uninsured Employer’s Benefit Trust Fund. This state fund is used to pay benefits to injured workers whose employers failed to provide insurance. Beyond the money, the court has placed strict permanent injunctions on the company. Man Staffing is now legally barred from working with the unlicensed individuals it previously used and is prohibited from borrowing or renting insurance policies from other businesses.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Andrew Reid of the Consumer Protection Unit prosecuted the case following a deep dive by the Bureau of Investigation. The ruling serves as a stern warning to the staffing industry that cutting corners on worker safety will lead to aggressive prosecution. Man Staffing and its related businesses must now obtain and maintain valid coverage from a licensed California insurer or face additional, even more severe, legal consequences.