California Department of Insurance News

Arrests Made in California ‘Family and Friend’ Auto Insurance Fraud Ring

An alleged “family and friend” organized auto insurance fraud ring in California was seemingly broken up by the Urban Automobile Insurance Fraud Task Force when seven people were arrested on Wednesday in connection to the case. In total, 23 individuals …

Viewpoint: California’s Next Steps on Cat Models, Challenges and Issues in Insurance Rate-Makingβ€Ž

A recently brewing and critical California issue is the conflict between industry’s desire to file catastrophe rating models to inform California property rates and California’s laws allowing a public inspection of rate filings. A large majority of carriers in the …

Former California Agent Sentenced for Stealing From Consumers

Christopher Ramos, 45, of Santa Rosa, California, was sentenced to four years in prison after an investigation by the California Department of Insurance reportedly found he stole more than $189,000 from consumers and left them uninsured. Ramos was convicted of …

California Insurance Broker Arraigned for Allegedly Stealing from Small Businesses

Brian Keith Arteaga, 39, of Placentia, California, was arraigned this week on multiple felony counts of grand theft by embezzlement, theft of fiduciary funds, insurance fraud, and money laundering after a California Department of Insurance investigation found he allegedly stole …

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 …