Santa Paula Farm Labor Contractor Held to Answer for Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud

ENTURA Calif. – Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Juana Patricia Barajas (DOB 08/01/71), of Santa Paula, has been held to answer on all charges, following a preliminary hearing, related to workers’ compensation insurance fraud, grand theft, and operating without required workers’ compensation insurance coverage while running Barajas Farm Labor Contracting. Barajas is charged with two counts of workers’ compensation insurance fraud, two counts of failure to secure workers’ compensation insurance, and one count of grand theft. The charges stem from allegations that Barajas underreported employee payroll information to workers’ compensation insurance carriers and operated her farm labor contracting business without  legally required insurance coverage for portions of 2021 through 2023.

Read the entire press release. Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, June 8, 2026