California Department of Insurance News

Agent in California Arrested for Falsifying Evidence And Perjury

Bail agent Fausto Atilano, 60, of Temecula, California, was arrested this week on multiple felony counts of falsifying judicial records, perjury, and preparing false evidence, after a California Department of Insurance investigation found he allegedly created fraudulent motions to deprive …

California Department of Insurance Bans Sender of Misleading Wildfire Mailers

A California Department of Insurance investigation into misleading mailers on insurance claims following wildfires led to a ban of public adjuster and California Recovery Group owner Argen Youssefi of Glendale. The investigation reportedly found California Recovery Group and its owner, …

California Couple Sentenced Thanks to YouTube Videos of Intentional Collisions

Christopher Phelps, 40, of Yucaipa, and his wife, Kimberly Phelps, 40, were sentenced this week after pleading no contest to felony counts of insurance fraud, child abuse and assault with a deadly weapon. The sentencing comes after a California Department …

Former California Insurance Agent Sentenced for Stealing $220K from Clients Including Late Art Dealer

John Philip Ryan, 64, of Yucca Valley, California, was sentenced and ordered to pay more than $220,000 in restitution to victims after pleading guilty to two felony counts of financial elder abuse and grand theft of insurance premiums. An investigation …

Officials: 30 California Workers Getting $437K in from Food Company

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and California Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower on Monday announced the resolution of criminal charges filed against Golden Food Inc in a plea agreement in which the company admitted to a litany of labor violations, including …

California Family Members Arraigned in $2.1M Insurance Fraud Schemes

Four Merced, California, family members were arraigned this week for multiple counts of insurance fraud after a California Department of Insurance investigation revealed the businesses owned and operated by the residents allegedly underreported payroll by millions of dollars. The underreporting …

California Department of Insurance Orders Refunds over Bogus Mailers

An insurance company offering home warranties must refund Californians who were reportedly deceived by a misleading mailer sent to hundreds of thousands of consumers. According to an investigation by the California Department of Insurance, Response Indemnity Company of California worked …

California Department Insurance Investigation Led to Dozens Implicated in Fraud Scheme

A California Department of Insurance-led investigation with assistance from the California Department of Justice has resulted in the arraignment of 12 suspects on more than 110 felony counts including conspiracy, insurance fraud, and grand theft for their alleged involvement in …

$1.5M for California Homeowners Overcharged Under Wildfire Risk Score

Kemper Independence Insurance Co. has issued more than $1.5 million in refunds to thousands of California homeowners after the California Department of Insurance found the carrier overcharged policyholders for wildfire risk. Kemper and its affiliate insurance company, Unitrin Auto and …

YouTube Videos of Intentional Collisions Led to Arrests of California Couple

A California couple was arrested on multiple felony counts of insurance fraud over allegedly staged collisions that were posted on YouTube. Christopher Phelps, 40, of Yucaipa, and his wife, Kimberly Phelps, 40, were arrested on multiple felony counts of insurance …