Alleged ID Theft Scheme by Palmdale Insurance Agents, $125K Profits, Multiple Federal Charges
LOS ANGELES – $125,000+ in unearned commissions landed Palmdale insurance agents Matthew Evans (33) and Crystal Ezeb (30) an arraignment for 11 felony counts each of ID theft, grand theft, and attempted grand theft. They did it by allegedly stealing identities of other insurance agents.
When complaints came in from 2 insurance companies alleging that 3 licensed insurance agents submitted dozens of life insurance applications fraudulently obtaining commission payments from the insurance companies – the CA Dept. of Insurance, launched an investigation led by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara.
“The investigation revealed Evans and Ezeb, of M&C Agency Corp., stole the identities of those three agents and one other agent to submit the fraudulent insurance applications,” said The California Department of Insurance (CDI). “They submitted these false applications in order to collect advanced commissions that they did not actually earn.”
CDI initiated administrative actions seeking to revoke Evans and Ezeb’s insurance licenses. The duo is scheduled to return to court on July 15, 2022, for the case being prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
MISSION STATEMENT: Led by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, the California Department of Insurance is the consumer protection agency for the nation’s largest insurance marketplace and safeguards all of the state’s consumers by fairly regulating the insurance industry. Under the Commissioner’s direction, the Department uses its authority to protect Californians from insurance rates that are excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory, oversee insurer solvency to pay claims, set standards for agents and broker licensing, perform market conduct reviews of insurance companies, resolve consumer complaints, and investigate and prosecute insurance fraud.
Consumers with any questions or concerns are urged to call 1-800-927-4357 or via www.insurance.ca.gov via webform or online chat. Non-media inquiries should be directed to the Consumer Hotline at 800-927-4357. Teletypewriter (TTY), please dial 800-482-4833.
