MIAMI -- An indictment handed down by the United States Attorney's office alleges a scheme by four people who put hundreds of South Florida construction workers at risk.

The 21-count indictment charges that Enrique Guevara, Erick Brandon, and Alexandra Cordero, participated in a mail fraud conspiracy to provide false workers' compensation insurance certificates for workers. A co-conspirator in the case is Marco A. Sandi, the owner of Sandi Construction, located in Coral Springs.

"This indictment discloses an illegal underground labor network," said Jeff Himmel of the United States Department of Labor.

Under Florida law, a general contractor, contractor or subcontractor who engages in any public or private construction must secure and maintain adequate workers compensation insurance. In high risk or dangerous work, the rate for workers' compensation insurance may be as high as 50 percent of the payroll.

According to the indictment, Sandi supplied workers to almost 200 general contractors and produced documentation of the insurance, but the government said that documentation was fraudulent.

"Sandi and his co-conspirators chose not to compete fairly with other labor brokers. Instead, according to our indictment, they chose to compete by breaking the law," said Alex Acosta, U.S. Attorney.

It allegedly left hundreds of workers on the job exposed to the inherent dangers with no insurance in case of an accident.

Between June 2005 and June 2006, Sandi Construction supplied workers to approximately 186 general contractors in 12 Florida counties and received approximately $11,725,275 in payments from these contractors. Similarly, from June 2006 to the date of Indictment, Sandi Construction supplied workers to 125 general contractors and received payments totaling approximately $9,202,067.

In addition, Sandi Construction’s actual payroll was much greater than the $93,000 that Sandi had initially declared to the insurance companies to obtain coverage for six employees. Consequently, Sandi Construction avoided paying approximately $4,000,000 in insurance premiums.

Sandi is named as an unindicted conspirator, but the U.S. Attorney said the case is just beginning.

Acosta said he hopes the case sends a message across South Florida and the entire state that insurance fraud is not going to be tolerated.