California’s Department of Insurance detectives recently arrested Ramon Humerto Otero, 37, of Adelanto, and Efrain Heredia Ojeda, 43, of Corona, on multiple felony counts of insurance fraud and grand theft.
The duo allegedly conspired to steal an $18,946 settlement check intended for a client whose workers compensation case Otero was presiding over and who passed away before the settlement with the insurer was achieved.
Otero, a hearing representative for the law offices of Ramon Otero Jr., negotiated a workers comp settlement agreement for his client. During the course of the negotiation, his client passed away. Otero still proceeded with negotiations despite the passing of his client and reported to the insurer that his client’s address changed.
Suspecting fraud, the State Compensation Insurance Fund referred the claim to the Department of Insurance for investigation.
Detectives found evidence that Otero instructed the insurer to mail the settlement check to the residence of Ojeda, an interpreter and close associate of Otero. Ojeda allegedly forged the deceased’s signature to endorse the settlement check and deposited it into his personal bank account.
Otero was booked into the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles. Ojeda was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.
Both face a maximum five-year prison sentence if convicted on all counts.
Author Kori Shafer-Stack, Editor, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in post-injury response procedures and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com. Contact: [email protected].
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