RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Saul Hinojosa, 48, of Calipatria, was sentenced to one felony count of identity theft and one felony count of grand theft after stealing his clients’ identities to write fraudulent insurance policies to collect unearned commissions.
Hinojosa was sentenced to 150 days in jail through work release and to pay $18,252 in restitution.
In February 2017, Hinojosa’s employer reported an internal investigation in which they suspected Hinojosa had written fraudulent preneed burial policies and collected unearned commissions. In July 2017, a consumer reported to the California Department of Insurance that they had received a new, unrequested, life insurance policy produced by Hinojosa — whom the consumer had previously dealt with when Hinojosa was as an agent at another insurance company.
A joint investigation by the Department and the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office found that between May 2016 and February 2017 Hinojosa wrote 15 fraudulent preneed burial policies and 13 fraudulent life insurance policies. To write the policies, Hinojosa used his former insurance clients’ identities without their knowledge. Hinojosa received approximately $18,000 in commissions from the fraudulent policies.
The Department of Insurance will be taking appropriate action against Hinojosa’s license. The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case.
Source: California Department of Insurance
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