Ex-Nordstrom Employee Arrested
Levi Scott Adams, of San Mateo, California, was arrested March 22 by investigators from the California Department of Insurance's Fraud Division and the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office on three felony counts of workers' compensation insurance fraud and one felony count of grand theft. He was booked into the San Mateo county jail.
If convicted on all counts, Adams could face up to five years in state prison and/or a maximum fine of $50,000.
On Aug. 7, 2004, Adams reportedly injured his right knee and right ankle when he slipped and fell down stairs inside the Nordstrom department store at the Hillsdale Shopping Center in San Mateo. Adams had been a fine jewelry salesperson with Nordstrom for approximately one month. He was initially placed off the work schedule as a result of this injury and began receiving temporary total disability payments. Adams allegedly told Nordstrom representatives and his treating physicians that he could not walk without the use of his crutches or a knee brace. He further reported pain in his lower back during the claims process and began treatments with a chiropractor. Adams was subsequently returned to work in a modified capacity.
Although Adams used his crutches when he went to medical appointments and to work, he was observed not using his crutches or knee brace outside of those environments. After two of Adams' physicians concluded that his subjective complaints to them were inconsistent with his apparent physical capabilities, Nordstrom discontinued TTD benefits and he was terminated for unethical behavior.
Adams' allegedly fraudulent workers' comp claim totaled more than $7,560.
Former Calif. Agent, Employee Arrested
A former California insurance agent and her employee were arrested for allegedly stealing and not remitting premiums to insurance companies of more than $3,000 from victims purchasing automobile insurance policies.
Yvette Roberta Lopez, of Camarillo, was arrested after surrendering at the Ventura County District Attorney's Office. Antonio Briones, of Oxnard, was arrested by the Oxnard Police Department. Lopez and Briones were each charged with two felony counts of insurance fraud. Bail was set at $25,000 each.
Lopez operated Yvette R. Lopez Insurance Services in Ventura County with offices in Santa Paula and Oxnard. Lopez and Briones allegedly failed to remit auto premium payments to insurance companies. Victims were allegedly given insurance identification cards that were not authorized by the companies.
Victims discovered they were not insured when they failed to receive insurance documents, and in one case, a victim was involved in a traffic collision and was notified by DMV that they did not have valid insurance.
Costa Mesa Insurance Agent Arrested
An investigation by CDI resulted in the arrest of a Costa Mesa insurance agent.
William Earl Stone was arrested at his Costa Mesa business office and transported to the Orange County Jail by investigators. Stone, president of Summit Insurance General Agents & Brokers Inc., was charged with four counts of grand theft, with bail set at $30,000. The Orange County District Attorney Office is prosecuting the case.
According to the CDI, Stone allegedly collected premium monies from three separate insureds and a premium finance company and failed to place coverage and return the unearned premium monies.
