Central New York Food Catering Business Owner Arrested For Failing To Provide Workers’ Compensation Coverage After Previous Conviction For Same Offense

New York State Workers’ Compensation Fraud Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott today announced the arrest of a Morrisville business owner on charges he failed to provide required Workers’ Compensation coverage for the employees of the food truck catering service he owns after a previous conviction for the same offense.

Robert A. Moore, 61, of Morrisville, was arrested and charged today with the Workers’ Compensation crime of Failure to Secure Compensation, a felony. Moore had previously been convicted of the same offense on December 18, 2017 after a plea of guilty.

An investigation by Workers’ Compensation Fraud Inspector General Leahy Scott found that Moore, owner of Stockyard BBQ and Catering, a food truck business that primarily operates at fairs and festivals, continued to operate his business without securing Workers’ Compensation coverage for his employees despite a previous conviction in Schoharie County for the same offense in 2017. The 2017 conviction was the result of a previous investigation by Workers’ Compensation Fraud Inspector General Leahy Scott and a prosecution by Schoharie County District Attorney’s Office. Under New York State law, businesses are required to provide Workers’ Compensation coverage for employees. However, despite Moore’s previous conviction, employees were again observed working at Moore’s business in the Summer of 2018 at locations in Madison County without the requisite Workers’ Compensation coverage.

“This employer has increased his profits through a brazen flouting of the law that left his workers unprotected by critical and mandatory coverage,” said Workers’ Compensation Inspector General Leahy Scott. “My law enforcement partners and I will pursue anyone who fails to provide required Workers’ Compensation coverage for hard-working New Yorkers.”

Moore was arraigned on the new charge in the Town of Madison Court and released pending further court action.

Inspector General Leahy Scott thanked the Madison County Health Department for their assistance with the investigation, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance with the arrest, and Madison County District Attorney William Gabor and his office for prosecuting this matter.

The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.