Woman Arraigned for WC Fraud

Emilia Sanchez, 37, was arraigned on workers’ compensation fraud charges in November, according to investigators with the California Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Branch’s Fraud Division. The San Bernardino, Calif., woman pled not guilty to seven felony counts of perjury.

Sanchez alleged an injury while working at a temporary employment agency under the alias of Susan Sanchez. Sanchez collected more than $16,000 in disability and medical benefits from the Zurich American Insurance Company. Investigators believe that Sanchez gained employment under the alias to continue collecting welfare benefits in her own name. Investigators confirmed that the real Susan Sanchez, Emilia’s sister, died in 1972. A fingerprint match was made between Emilia Sanchez’s prints and the prints she provided when applying for a driver’s license at the Department of Motor Vehicles under the alias of Susan Sanchez.

Sanchez was booked at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on $50,000 bail after the San Bernardino Superior Court issued a felony warrant for her arrest on Nov. 7, 2002. In addition to the seven counts of perjury, she is also charged with making material misstatements regarding her claim.

Topics Fraud