Roofing subcontractor charged with workers’ comp fraud

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In Brief

• Brian Alanis Ramos charged with two counts of workers’ compensation fraud.
• Fraud linked to roofing work at McDonough Homes public housing project.
• Ramos allegedly misrepresented payroll to Minnesota Assigned Risk Plan insurer.
• Estimated premium avoidance of approximately $172,099.77 by Ramos.

The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office has charged Brian Alanis Ramos, a subcontractor for a public housing project, with two counts of workers’ compensation insurance fraud. These charges relate back to charges against other individuals involved in a roofing fraud scheme at St. Paul’s McDonough Homes.

The St. Paul Public Housing Agency manages McDonough Homes and contracted for a major roofing replacement project valued at more than $1.5 million. Jose Herrera’s company, Bayvista, was hired by Magnuson Construction to supply workers to do the roof and gutter replacement. That contract was worth more than half a million dollars. As a publicly funded job, Bayvista needed to pay minimum prevailing wages set by Minnesota.

In September 2025, the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office filed felony charges against Jose Herrera, Carrie Gutbrod-Herrera and Joseph Herrera, who prosecutors allege engaged in wage theft, insurance fraud, and tax evasion. Jose Herrera was charged with two felony counts of wage theft and six felony counts of tax evasion and insurance fraud. His wife and son were also charged with felony tax evasion.

After the Herrera-related work ended, Magnuson engaged a new subcontractor, Limanis Remodeling & Exteriors, for phase two of the project. Ramos was Limanis’ sole owner and operator.

Prosecutors say that Ramos was being investigated around the same time felony charges were filed against the Herreras, as investigators evaluated whether insurance fraud related to workers’ compensation coverage continued into phase two. The investigation focused on alleged misrepresentations Ramos made to secure and maintain workers’ compensation insurance while Limanis was performing roofing and gutter work on the public housing project.

According to the complaint, Limanis obtained workers’ compensation insurance through Minnesota’s Assigned Risk Plan, with coverage effective from Feb. 7, 2025, through Feb. 7, 2026. The policy was issued by Old Republic, and Ramos allegedly made an initial premium payment of $501.00. Prosecutors allege this premium was unusually low because Ramos represented that Limanis would not have employees requiring workers’ compensation coverage during the policy period.

However, the complaint alleges Ramos later submitted certified payroll reports to the Public Housing Agency stating that Limanis paid substantial wages to multiple employees working on the McDonough Homes project. Those reports allegedly show Limanis paid approximately $416,490 in wages between June and September 2025, including about $359,258 in roofing wages and $57,232 in sheet metal work related to gutters and downspouts. Prosecutors claim these payroll submissions directly contradicted Ramos’ representations to the insurer that Limanis had no employees requiring coverage.

After the policy period ended, Old Republic initiated an audit to determine whether additional premiums were owed based on actual payroll. The complaint alleges that on April 13, 2026, Ramos responded to the audit. He provided bank statements, payroll information, and tax records. He asserted that Limanis did not employ workers who required workers’ compensation insurance coverage. Prosecutors allege those statements were false and designed to conceal payroll exposure that would have triggered significantly higher premiums.

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension estimated that Ramos avoided paying approximately $172,099.77 in workers’ compensation premiums by allegedly underreporting payroll and failing to disclose that workers were performing high-risk roofing and sheet metal work classifications. The complaint alleges premium avoidance of approximately $165,689.79 tied to roofing payroll and $6,409.98 tied to sheet metal payroll.