TROY – The Missouri Department Labor Fraud Unit charged a Troy man with filing false documents relating to worker’s compensation benefits connected to his roofing company.

Julio C. Moriel-Cardoza, the owner of J. Moriel Contracting, has been charged with two Class A misdemeanors following the state investigation.

According to a probable cause statement, Moriel-Cardoza is accused of providing “eight invalid Certificates of Insurance (COI) as proof of worker’s compensation insurance” to Travelers Insurance Sept. 19, 2021. Additionally, Moriel-Cardoza is accused of fraudulently misrepresenting information in order to receive worker’s compensation insurance at below the standard rate. Per court records, Moriel-Cardoza “signed an application for workers’ compensation documenting that his business did not use subcontractors” yet “income tax records showed that Julio Cesar Moriel-Cardoza had $650,095 in labor expenses.” Also, the probable cause statement notes Moriel-Cardoza made a false statement during an investigation on fraud and noncompliance. In a recorded conversation Aug. 31, 2022 Moriel-Cardoza noted the company had workers’ compensation insurance but records indicated there was no active insurance policy since Jan. 3 of that year.

Judge Michael Jacobs is presiding over the case. An initial hearing is scheduled for Sept. 30. No attorney has yet been listed for Moriel- Cardoza. Assistant Attorney General Gabriela Maria Gonzalez Perez is the prosecutor.

According to online records, J Moriel Contracting is a roofing company founded in 2019 that is based out of Moriel-Cardoza’s home.

In addition to the recent state charges, Moriel-Cardoza and the company incurred a federal fine in 2024 following a surprise inspection a month prior by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

OSHA online records indicate “each employee engaged in residential construction activities 6 feet or more above lower levels had not been protected by guardrail systems, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system.”

The citation issued Jan. 16 indicated the inspection occurred at a Wentzville property in December 2023.

“J Moriel Contracting LLC did not ensure that each employee roofing a residential building at 423 Crystal Trail Drive in Wentzville, Missouri, was protected from falls by personal fall arrest systems,” the inspection notice states.

The company was fined $4,839 but a few weeks later, agreed to a settlement of $2,903.40.