View this article online: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2020/08/25/580312.htm
Three Californians have been charged with multiple felony counts of insurance fraud and forgery for allegedly filing fraudulent insurance claims on a former employee’s policy and intercepting insurance checks to receive undeserved payouts.
The California Department of Insurance reported that Luis Manuel Burgos, 47, of Fresno, self-surrendered on Aug. 24 after being charged with multiple felony counts of insurance fraud and forgery for allegedly filing fraudulent insurance claims on a former employee’s policy and intercepting insurance checks to receive undeserved payouts.
Two of Burgos’ former employees were also charged for their involvement in what investigators called an organized ring.
The CDI alleges that Burgos, the owner of B&R Private Security, arranged an informal sub-lease agreement for a 2016 Lexus with his former employee. Burgos filed several claims, or had several claims filed on his behalf, for the Lexus and his personal vehicle, a BMW, on his former employee’s insurance policy without that former employee’s knowledge.
A CDI investigators say Burgos allegedly directed, conspired with, and/or aided another former employee, Steven Anthony Rogers, 47, who was also charged, to commit several criminal violations including intercepting insurance checks by impersonating the policyholder and forging the policyholder’s signature.
Another B&R Private Security former employee, Darlina Gutierrez Diaz, 37, of Clovis, was also charged for filing an injury claim after being a passenger in a collision. According to CDI, Diaz claimed she missed work at B&R Private Security as a result of her injuries. Her boss, Burgos, provided further documentation to support Diaz was off work due to injury.
The department says its investigation revealed that the documents allegedly produced by Diaz’s treating physician to grant her time off work were forged. When confronted with this information, Diaz claimed Burgos forged the documents to get Diaz additional paid time off work.
Burgos self-surrendered to the Fresno County Jail. Burgos’ bail was set at $62,000 and his arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 28.
Rogers was arrested on Aug. 21. His bail was set at $49,000 and his arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 27.
Diaz self-surrendered on Aug. 25 to the Fresno County Jail. Diaz’s bail was set at $30,000 and her arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 28.
The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting this case.
Source: California Department of Insurance