A Day Late, A Dollar Short

Michael Aguilar, 33, of Huntington Beach, was arrested at the California Department of Insurance Orange Regional Office and transported to Orange County Jail. Aguilar was charged with two felony counts of insurance fraud, and bail was set at $10,000. The Orange County District Attorney's Office is prosecuting the case.

According to investigators, Aguilar filed a claim with his automobile insurer for an auto collision that occurred in January 2001. A CDI investigation revealed Aguilar had obtained an insurance policy after the accident occurred. Aguilar reported the accident one week after the insurance purchase, stating that the time of the accident occurred after the effective date on his newly acquired policy. Aguilar admitted later to investigators that he did not have insurance at the time of the accident.

Incorrect Procedure'

Charles Allen Shivers, 46, a California Department of Corrections correctional officer, surrendered to a Riverside Court on two felony charges of workers' compensation insurance fraud. The suspect allegedly failed to notify his insurance carrier of additional employment income in order to receive benefits to which he was not entitled.

Shivers, a Corona resident, pled not guilty to the charges. The Riverside County District Attorney's Office is prosecuting the case.

According to investigators, Shivers filed a workers' comp claim for an alleged injury to his back on Sept. 28, 2000, while employed with the Riverside Transit Agency as an entry-level mechanic. On Oct. 8, 2000, while on temporary total disability, Shivers was appointed as a correctional officer cadet with the California Department of Corrections. Upon graduating on Dec. 22, 2000, Shiver reported for duty at the California Rehabilitation Center in Norco.

While employed as a correctional officer, Shivers received approximately $14,366 in disability payments that he was not entitled to. According to investigators, Shivers gave verbal and written statements to his physician stating that he had not worked since the date of his injury with the Transit Agency.

Sideswipe Tales Don't Blindside Insurer

Three Modesto residents, Johnny B. Slefo, 42; Wylet G. Slefo, 42; and Bernadet Younan, 37, were arrested on one charge each of insurance fraud and booked into the Stanislaus County Jail. Bail was set at $15,000 each. The Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office is prosecuting the case.

According to investigators, Johnny Slefo was the insured driver in a staged vehicle accident. Wylet Slefo and Bernadet Younan were passengers in the vehicle. All three made insurance claims with Farmers Insurance Group for medical treatment.

The three suspects alleged they were the victims of a hit-and-run vehicle accident. They stated to Farmers adjusters that a truck sideswiped their vehicle, causing damage to that vehicle and all aboard.

Farmers had the vehicle inspected by a forensics engineer. The engineer reconstructed the accident and concluded it could not have happened as described by the three passengers, and, therefore, the damage and injuries did not occur as claimed.

The total amount that was submitted to Farmers Insurance Group as a result of this fraudulent activity was $9,041.

Agent Racks Up 13 Felony Charges

Following a joint investigation by the CDI Criminal Investigations Branch's Investigations Bureau and the Yolo County District Attorney's Office, Suzanne Beall, 47, president of Northstate Insurance Agency Inc., was arrested at her residence and transported to the Sacramento County Jail. Beall was charged with two felony counts of grand theft; two felony counts of destroying property; one felony count of fraudulently appropriating property; four felony counts of passing forged, altered, or counterfeit items; one felony count of crimes against elders; and three felony counts of forgery. Bail has been set at $500,000. The Yolo County District Attorney's Office is prosecuting the case.

Investigators are looking into further allegations that Beall accepted insurance premium from a daycare nursery school located in Davis, a pool supply company located in Sacramento, and mobile carnival companies in Southern California and Arizona. Beall allegedly failed to obtain the proper insurance coverage and to remit collected insurance premium to an insurance company. It is further alleged that she then issued bogus policies and insurance identification cards to those policyholders from 1991 through 1999.

With a Little Help from Her Friends

Arrest warrants were served on five local Fresno residents last week, concluding a six-month investigation that began with a referral by Geico Insurance alleging fraud on a reported theft and arson of a vehicle.

The CDI investigation revealed that Hollie Bomboy, 19, was responsible for the theft and arson of her own vehicle in order to fraudulently obtain monies on an insurance claim. Bomboy was arrested on five felony counts including three charges of insurance fraud. Her bail was set at $66,000.

Investigators allege that Bomboy conspired with and obtained assistance from four others in her attempt to defraud her insurer. Michael C. Bettencourt, 20; John L. Mott III, 18; Elias Iniques, 19; and Mario Ray Sandoval Jr., 18, were each arrested for three felony counts including insurance fraud. Bail was set at $60,000 for each. The Fresno County District Attorney's Office is prosecuting the case.

During the investigation, Bomboy confessed her involvement, stating that her vehicle had suffered from mechanical problems and that she was experiencing financial hardship. Investigators say Bomboy named her co-conspirators, the part each played and the reward or benefit each received for their assistance.

In December 2000, Bomboy allegedly drove her vehicle to Bettencourt's residence, meeting with him, Mott, Iniques and Sandoval. After confirming the details of Bomboy's insurance scam, she is purported to have assisted the suspects in removing her car stereo and personal property. Bomboy left the vehicle with the other suspects and departed to a shopping mall. Sandoval, Mott and Iniques drove to a gas station and filled a can obtained from Mott's garage with gasoline.

According to investigators, while Bomboy was at the mall awaiting instructions from Bettencourt to report her vehicle stolen, the other suspects drove her vehicle out to an area near the town of Caruthers. Investigators say Sandoval kicked out a window to feign forced entry, and the suspects then used the gasoline to set fire to the vehicle.

Upon destruction of the vehicle, the suspects notified Bettencourt the car had been burned. Bomboy notified police and reported her vehicle stolen.

Bomboy told investigators that in exchange for their assistance in stealing and burning her vehicle, she gave Mott her car stereo, sold her amplifier and speakers to Bettencourt at a reduced price, allowed Iniques to pick what he wanted from the vehicle and agreed to pay Sandoval $100. On the night of the arson, Bomboy submitted a claim to Geico Insurance for the loss of her vehicle and would later add the stereo she had given to Mott to her claim.