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Southland agents arrested for fraud and ID theft in commissions scam
Fraudulent insurance applications used to scam $124k from life insurance companies
LOS ANGELES, CA — Life insurance agents, 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 on multiple felony counts of identity theft and grand theft after allegedly submitting fraudulent insurance applications with information from stolen identities to collect approximately $124,000 in unearned commissions from insurance companies. Scotty Carlisle, 42, of Corona, is making arrangements to surrender himself.Â
“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.” 
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An investigation by California Department of Insurance Investigation Division revealed 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.
The suspects altered and falsified applications by making changes to essential information, including addresses, phone numbers, birthdates and social security numbers and submitting new application through the insurer’s electronic database. Not only were the agents collecting unearned commissions, they were allegedly trying to take advantage of bonuses, including a Hawaiian trip incentive offered to qualifying insurance agents.
When the victim insurer discovered inconsistencies in the applications, they terminated the sales agents’ contracts, removed them from the incentive promotion and reported the alleged illegal activity to the department.
