Indictment accuses restaurant owner of workers’ comp fraud

STAFF REPORT

BOARDMAN — The owner of Youngstown Sports Grille has been indicted on a felony charge of workers’ compensation fraud as well as a misdemeanor count of failing to comply with state law.

The Mahoning County grand jury issued the indictment Thursday against Sean Pregibon of Brandt Place in Boardman.

When Pregibon was reached by phone, he said he had no knowledge of the indictment and would confer with his lawyer.

He added, however, that he has been paying his workers’ compensation premiums for the South Avenue restaurant and has not engaged in fraud.

He said any dealings he’s had with the state were over routine disputes on some workers’ compensation claims, but they have been worked out.

The indictment says that from March 1, 2007, to Feb. 28, 2009, Pregibon failed to secure workers’ compensation coverage with the purpose to defraud the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. The misdemeanor charge is related to the state’s claim the payments were not made.

The indictment did not list a specific value of the unpaid assessments but said they were between $5,000 and $100,000.