Three Riverside and Two Los Angeles County Insurance Agents Arrested for ID Theft

RIVERSIDE – Three Riverside County and two Los Angeles County residents were arrested for multiple felony counts of identity theft and grand theft for allegedly submitting fraudulent insurance applications with information from stolen identities.

Samuel Tadlock III, 32, of Eastvale, Marlene Ramirez, 42, of Murrieta, Daniel Herrarte, 34, of Sylmar, and Jorge Lopez Jr., 38, of San Fernando were arrested for collecting around $124,000 in unearned commission from insurance companies and Scotty Carlisle, 42 of Corona, will be surrendering himself.

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The investigation revealed that the agents issued life and supplemental insurance policies for Accident, Accident Care, Critical Illness, Disability, Medical Bridge, and Group Medical Bridge, using fraudulent applications as part of a scheme to earn commission advances from insurers. It is alleged that the suspects altered and falsified applications making changes to essential information. Information changed included addresses, phone numbers, birthdates, and social security numbers. In addition to collecting the unearned commission, the suspects are accused of trying to take advantage of bonuses, including Hawaiian trip incentives.

“I have zero tolerance for agents and brokers who scam insurers and victimize consumers,” said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. “We aggressively investigate allegations of wrongdoing and work with our district attorney partners to prosecute scam artists and dishonest insurance producers.”

The discovery of the inconsistencies in the applications led the victim insurers to terminate the sales agents’ contracts and remove them from the incentive promotion. The victim insurers also reported the activity to the California Department of Insurance. The report led the department to find evidence that another insurer was was victimized by the suspects. The investigation is ongoing and the department has taken action to suspend the agents’ licenses and will take further action, if they are convicted.

Herrarte and Lopez were booked into Los Angeles County Jail and Samuel Tadlock II was booked into the Riverside County jail. Tadlock is due in court on May 29, 2018.