Former Teacher Arrested on Five Felony Counts

Milo Sam Popovich, 61, of Sutter Creek, Calif., surrendered to authorities at the Amador County Jail on five felony counts of insurance fraud. Bail was set at $50,000. If convicted, Popovich could face up to five years in prison and/or a maximum fine of $50,000. The Amador County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.

According to investigators, the former school teacher reportedly filed a claim with CSE Insurance for over $400,000 worth of antiques that were allegedly stolen from his vehicle while it was parked at Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento. During an interview with CDI investigators, Popovich changed his story and alleged he was actually the victim of an armed robbery and held at gunpoint.

To date, the Fraud Division has been unable to positively verify the existence of any of the alleged stolen property. In addition, investigators said there are major inconsistencies regarding the circumstances surrounding the alleged theft. This investigation also revealed that Popovich has had at least two previous theft claims that shared similar suspicious circumstances.