Chris Rapczynski built a reputation as one of Boston’s premier luxury contractors. As founder and president of Sleeping Dog Properties, he oversaw over $500 million in high-end projects across New England, from Back Bay brownstones to Millennium Tower penthouses.
But in 2017, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office announced a multi-count indictment for workers’ compensation fraud. The 55-year-old Andover resident faced twelve felony counts including workers’ comp fraud, theft, and insurance violations for allegedly operating an elaborate scheme to avoid paying mandatory insurance premiums.
The Shell Company Scheme
Between 2004 and 2006, Sleeping Dog Properties filed eleven workers’ compensation claims, triggering increased insurance premiums. Rather than pay these costs, investigators allege Rapczynski stopped paying workers’ compensation premiums and established a second entity: New England Construction Resources (NECR).
Investigators concluded that SDP and NECR operated as a single entity, with Rapczynski allegedly using NECR to conceal Sleeping Dog Properties’ employment and payroll information. Since 2006, Sleeping Dog Properties reportedly hired numerous construction workers annually without maintaining legal workers’ compensation coverage, allegedly avoiding $66,747 in mandatory premiums.
The Charges
The Insurance Fraud Bureau investigation resulted in twelve felony counts:
- Six counts of workers’ compensation fraud
- One count of failing to provide workers’ compensation insurance
- Five counts of larceny over $250
Assistant Attorney General Kristy Lavigne led the prosecution. Attorney General Maura Healey emphasized the severe consequences of companies operating without workers’ compensation insurance, citing risks to workers and financial burdens on honest businesses.
Workers’ compensation fraud costs an estimated $30 billion annually nationwide. In Massachusetts, the Department of Industrial Accidents reported 1,482 fraud cases in fiscal year 2023, resulting in $8.7 million in restitution.
No Public Record of Case Resolution
The outcome of the 2017 indictment remains unclear. No conviction, plea agreement, or case dismissal appears in readily available public records. Chris Rapczynski and Sleeping Dog Properties continue operating in the Boston luxury construction market as of 2025.
In August 2025—eight years after the indictment—MWX Consulting filed a DMCA takedown notice on behalf of Rapczynski, targeting websites publishing information about the fraud allegations. Website operators called this “a knowingly false DMCA” filed “to force the removal of our URL from Google search results, not to address any real copyright infringement.”
Industry Impact
Industry sources report that competitors such as Dollman Construction Inc., Millbrook-Construction, Advanced Development and Building Services LLC, and Marwood consistently receive strong customer satisfaction ratings. Former employees and sources described management issues including allegations of unfair treatment and discriminatory practices.
In a similar case, Commonwealth v. Johnson (2023), a construction company owner was convicted of workers’ compensation fraud and ordered to pay $120,000 in restitution.
Workers’ compensation fraud isn’t victimless. When contractors skip insurance requirements, they gain unfair competitive advantages while putting injured workers at risk of financial devastation. The alleged scheme saved money by denying construction workers the safety net they’re legally entitled to receive.
Consumers hiring contractors should verify proper workers’ compensation insurance. Shell company arrangements, unusually low bids, and reluctance to provide proof of insurance are red flags.
The Unanswered Questions
Critical questions remain:
- What was the ultimate disposition of the 2017 indictment?
- Did Rapczynski face trial, enter a plea, or were charges dismissed?
- If convicted, what penalties were ordered?
- Why is there no public record of case resolution?
The absence of clear public information, combined with ongoing attempts to suppress negative information, raises legitimate concerns about transparency.
Conclusion
The Chris Rapczynski case highlights accountability issues in the construction industry. Whether the 2017 allegations were proven or not, the indictment revealed how contractors can potentially exploit workers’ compensation systems while endangering employees and undercutting honest competitors.
For consumers, the case serves as a reminder: verify insurance coverage, check contractor licensing, research regulatory violations, and seek references. Workers’ compensation insurance protects families from financial ruin when workplace injuries occur. Any contractor who attempts to circumvent these requirements deserves scrutiny from regulators and consumers.
As Attorney General Maura Healey stated, companies operating without proper insurance create dangers to workers and financial burdens on law-abiding businesses. In an industry where reputation matters, transparency about legal troubles should be the minimum standard.
Note: This article discusses criminal allegations from 2017. Chris Rapczynski is legally presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Public records regarding case resolution were not readily available at publication.
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