Travis County Drywall Owner Faces $170,000 Workers' Comp Fraud Charges
Summary
The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation Fraud Unit has announced felony fraud charges against Cristino Tapia Castaneda, owner of Texana Drywall Construction. Castaneda is charged with three counts including Securing Execution of Document by Deception (2nd-degree felony) and Insurance Fraud (state jail felony), totaling $170,000 in alleged fraud from a scheme spanning 2014-2024. The grand jury indictment, returned November 8, 2024, alleges the defendant falsified payroll information to avoid paying accurate workers' compensation premiums on Austin construction projects.
What changed
The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation announced fraud charges against Cristino Tapia Castaneda, owner of Travis County-based Texana Drywall Construction, stemming from alleged fraudulent activity from 2014 through 2024. The charges include Securing Execution of Document by Deception (2nd-degree felony) and two state jail felonies: Insurance Fraud and Fraudulently Obtaining Worker's Compensation Coverage. The indictment alleges the defendant deceived multiple workers' compensation insurance providers and falsified payroll information to avoid paying accurate premiums on Austin-based construction projects.\n\nEmployers and businesses with workers' compensation obligations should note that this enforcement action demonstrates continued state oversight of premium accuracy and coverage compliance. Companies should ensure payroll records and coverage documentation are accurate and properly maintained. The involved insurance carriers, Texas Mutual and National Specialty Insurance, cooperated in uncovering the alleged scheme. A court appearance is scheduled for February 12, 2025, in Travis County's 427th District Court.
Penalties
Felony conviction: 2-20 years prison and up to $10,000 fine; State jail felony: up to $20,000 fine and court-ordered restitution
Archived snapshot
Apr 18, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
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January 13, 2025
Cristino Tapia Castaneda, owner of Texana Drywall Construction, is set to appear in Travis County’s 427th District Court on February 12 to face three counts of fraud totaling $170,000.
On November 8, 2024, a grand jury handed up an indictment against Castaneda on a charge of Securing Execution of Document by Deception, a second-degree felony. Charges against the company include Insurance Fraud and Fraudulently Obtaining Worker’s Compensation Coverage, both state jail felonies.
The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation’s Fraud Unit uncovered the alleged scheme, which began in 2014 and continued through 2024.
Castaneda and his company allegedly deceived multiple workers’ compensation insurance providers to obtain coverage for work on large, high-profile Austin-based construction projects and falsified payroll information to avoid paying accurate premiums.
The insurance carriers involved are Texas Mutual and National Specialty Insurance.
If convicted of felony fraud, Castaneda could face two to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, and court-ordered restitution. If found guilty of the two state jail felonies, the company could be ordered to pay restitution and up to $20,000 in fines.
Individuals who suspect workers’ compensation fraud are encouraged to report it by calling our Workers’ Compensation Fraud Hotline at 844-FRAUD99 (844-372-8399) or visit www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/ci/wcfraudrptcnt.html#rptwcfraud.
For more information contact DWCExternalRelations@tdi.texas.gov.
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