California Department of Insurance News

California Couple Sentenced in $1M Workers’ Comp Fraud Case

Carmen Hall Soruco, 70, and her husband Antonio Soruco, 75, both of Novato, California, were sentenced after pleading guilty to workers’ compensation fraud charges. Hall was sentenced on multiple felony counts to two years of probation with full search and …

Unlicensed California Agent Sentenced for $1.4M Insurance Fraud

Unlicensed insurance agent Karyl Lynn Reed, 58, formerly of Cosa Mesa, California, was convicted last week on multiple felony counts of embezzlement and white-collar fraud enhancements after defrauding three victims of over $1.4 million. Reed was sentenced to four years …

California Auto Insurance Fraud Investigation Results in Charges for Couple

Edwin Saghian, 51, of Tarzana, California, was arraigned on Monday at the Fresno County Superior Court on five felony counts of insurance fraud after allegedly setting fire to his own vehicle and then reporting it stolen for an insurance payout. …

California Insurance Agent Arraigned in Alleged Affinity Group Discounts Scheme

Raffi Sarian, 32, of North Hollywood, California, was arraigned this week on four felony counts of identity theft and nine felony counts of forgery after allegedly altering information from professional licenses and diplomas to apply unearned “affinity group” discounts to …

California Business Owner Couple Nabbed in $4.5M Workers’ Comp Fraud Scheme

Wei Wen Wu, 54, and Feng Wen Lam, 49, both of Arcadia, California, were charged with 43 felony counts of insurance fraud, grand theft, and conspiracy after allegedly underreporting nearly $4.5 million in employee payroll. The scheme reportedly fraudulently reduced …

New Insurance Laws for 2022 Sponsored by California Commissioner

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and the California Department of Insurance released a list of laws taking effect this year that were sponsored by Lara. New California laws related to insurance include the creation of new health coverage options for …

California DOI: Insurers Non-Renewed Fewer Homeowners in 2020, FAIR Plan Policies Increased

The number of California homeowners non-renewed by insurers fell by 10%statewide in 2020 compared with the previous year, as mandatory moratoriums by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara made up more than 80% of the statewide reduction in non-renewals, according to a …

Unlicensed California Agent Charged with 80 Felony Counts in Alleged Premium Thefts

Juan Carlos Martinez, 56, of Yorba Linda, California, has been charged with 12 counts of grand theft, 34 felony counts of forgery, 34 counts of insurance fraud, and one count of money laundering, after allegedly collecting premium payments from customers …

California Man Arraigned on 14 Counts of Insurance Fraud in ‘Paper Collision’ Scheme

Farrukh Hussain, 37, of Eastvale, California, was arraigned on 14 felony counts of insurance fraud after allegedly stealing consumers’ identities to file 14 fraudulent insurance claims with six different insurance companies using a “paper collision” scheme – meaning most of …

Organized Fraud Ring in California Sentenced for 15 Staged Collisions

Los Angeles, California residents Victor Valle-Diaz, 55, Eduardo Retana, 25, and Ausencio Gomez, 46, were sentenced to serve in state prison after pleading no contest to charges of insurance fraud and assault for their involvement in the organized ring. The …