Calif. Couple Arrested on Three Felony Counts of Fraud
Samantha M. Dean, 37, and Artemus M. Steele, 27, both of Sacramento, were arrested and booked into the Sacramento County Jail on three felony counts each of insurance fraud. Bail for each was set at $5,000. If convicted, they each could face up to five years in prison and/or a maximum fine of $50,000. The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office is prosecuting the case.
According to California Department of Insurance (CDI) investigators, in March 2002, Dean allegedly filed a fraudulent insurance claim with USAA to receive benefits for damage to her vehicle. Dean alleged she damaged the vehicle on both sides as she was pulling into her garage. Her husband, Steele, reportedly told a local auto body shop he damaged the vehicle in a car wash and needed an estimate because the car wash was going to pay for damages. The body shop determined the damages Steele pointed out to them were consistent with damages done by striking a garage. Dean was later interviewed by USAA and admitted to filing a false insurance claim.
Duo Arrested for Mail Fraud
On June 24, 2003, Ramon Ortiz, 48, of Los Angeles and Augustine Carrasco, 43, of Diamond Bar, were arrested on one count of insurance fraud and one count of grand theft. Both charges are felonies and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office is prosecuting the case. Subjects were booked at Los Angeles County Central Jail with bail set at $38,000 each. If convicted, both subjects face up to five years in prison and/or up to $50,000 in fines.
Investigators stated Ortiz shipped a package via UPS in Nov. 2001 to Carrasco in St. Louis, Mo., and insured the package for $40,000. The package was lost in transit and Ortiz filed a lost parcel package claim in Jan. 2002. Ortiz claimed the package contained a pair of earrings and a diamond ring valued at $46,000. The claim was accepted and Ortiz was paid $38,000 as settlement.
Subsequently, UPS learned from the jeweler that the pair of earrings and diamond ring were in possession of the jeweler during the time Ortiz shipped the package in November and when Ortiz filed his claim with UPS.
Carrasco was arrested for aiding and abetting the commission of this fraudulent claim.
Auto Collision Ring Arrests
Three suspects were arrested and charged with 28 felony counts after an investigation of a staged auto collision ring.
Attorney Robert Belshaw, Solomon Davis, and Timothy Quinn, M.D., are being held on charges that include insurance fraud, grand theft, conspiracy, failure to file income tax, and money laundering.
The 18-month investigation by CDI and other agencies in Los Angeles, have linked suspects to a crime group that allegedly staged numerous collisions from 1999 to 2002.
Participants of these staged collisions would allegedly locate a victim, pull in front of the insured driver abruptly apply the brakes, causing the victim to crash into the suspect's vehicle. Most of the alleged victims were treated at Total Medical Health Care and were represented by Belshaw's law office.
Davis is the office administrator for Belshaw's law office and the owner of Total Medical Health Care. Davis, a non-attorney, maintains a law office within Total Medical Health Care. Suspects reportedly brought cases to Davis and claimants were required to complete forms and then sign for treatment. The claimants visited Total Medical Health Care anywhere from two to eight times, but the clinic then allegedly billed the insurance companies for as many as 32 visits. Claimants supposedly requested an advance on the money they expected to receive from the insurance companies. Davis would then allegedly issue a check to the claimant often charging a $100 check-cashing fee and then bilk the claimants out of the rest of the insurance money due them.
Bail is set at $1,000,000 for Davis, $200,000 for Belshaw, and $30,000 for Quinn.
Insurance Broker Surrenders to Police
A Los Angeles insurance broker has been charged with four felony counts of grand theft for allegedly stealing an estimated $14,000 in premiums from his clients, according to investigators with the CDI.
Jung Wo Kim, 37, who operated JK insurance Services in Los Angeles, surrendered to the Los Angeles Police Department. He is suspected of reportedly defrauding the clients between June 2001 and Jan. 2003.
Bail was set at $80,000, and Kim could face up to four years in prison and be ordered to pay restitution.
Insurance Fraud Arrests
Eight people were arraigned on charges of insurance fraud and assault with a deadly weapon as the result of an ongoing investigation by the CDI Fraud Division, and other agencies.
The suspects include Maria Solis, Francisco Solis, and Humberto Galves, all of Bloomington, Calif; Jose Rico, Aura Rico, and Adelaida Fajardo, all of Fontana, Calif.; and Griselda Galvez-Hernandez, and Eduardo Galvez, both of San Bernadino, Calif.
The suspects were allegedly involved in orchestrating staged auto collisions targeting innocent motorists on Inland Empire streets and freeways. More arrests are expected.
