Case # 18CF3512, 19CF0183, 19CF0354
SEVEN DEFENDANTS ARRAIGNED FOR INSURANCE FRAUD OVER $100,000 IN FEBRUARY
SANTA ANA, Calif. – Seven defendants were arraigned in three separate cases for insurance fraud of over $100,000 in February. The defendants in each of these cases are charged with multiple felony counts and face maximum sentences of 10 to 43 years in state prison if convicted on all charges.
Case # 18CF3512
Four defendants were arraigned for their involvement in a scheme that unlawfully obtained patients for a medical center by paying “cappers” and failing to disclose this to insurers. As a result, they are accused of attempting to defraud multiple insurers of over $2.9 million. Jeffrey Scott Catanzarite, 59, Irvine, Max Humberto Matos, 78, Long Beach, Ronald Lee Martin, 68, Corona Del Mar, and his wife Veronica Martin, 63, Corona Del Mar are each charged with 34 felony counts of insurance fraud and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, as well as additional counts for the unlawful referral of patients for compensation. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 43 years and eight months in state prison. The defendants appeared in court on Feb. 19, 2019, for continued arraignment and were released on bail. The defendants are scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on May 21, 2019, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
The OCDA Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. Deputy District Attorney Steven Schriver of the Insurance Fraud Unit is prosecuting this case.
Case # 19CF0183
An insurance broker was charged and arraigned on Feb. 25, 2019, for allegedly collecting insurance premiums from eight separate victims and failing to procure workers’ compensation insurance. As a result, the eight victims’ losses totaled $105,227.86. Alan Yousefi, owner of Vanak Insurance, was charged with two felony counts of insurance fraud, three felony counts of grand theft, and two felony counts of forgery, with a sentencing enhancement for white collar crime for a loss of over $100,000. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum of 10 years in state prison. The defendant is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on April 30, 2019, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
The California Department of Insurance investigated this case. Senior Deputy District Attorney Donde McCament of the Insurance Fraud Unit is prosecuting this case.
Case # 19CF0354
Two defendants were charged with attempting to defraud multiple insurers of approximately $120,000. Salvador Franco, Jr., 42, Downey and Mirella Flores, 45, Paramount are each charged with 37 felony counts, including insurance fraud and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 41 years in state prison. The defendants appeared in court on Feb. 15, 2019, for arraignment and were released on $100,000 bail. The defendants are scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on April 24, 2019, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
The OCDA Bureau of Investigation, LADA Bureau of Investigation, and the California Department of Insurance investigated this case. Deputy District Attorney Steven Schriver of the Insurance Fraud Unit is prosecuting this case.