Long Beach trucking insurance fraud investigation nets two convictions

Long Beach trucking insurance fraud investigation nets two convictions Two insurance broker-agents operating a commercial insurance firm in Long Beach have been convicted and sentenced in a case involving the theft of insurance premiums from local trucking companies, according to the California Department of Insurance.
   Carlos Macias, 23, a licensed broker-agent from South Gate, and Yvette Diaz, 44, a former insurance broker-agent residing in Miami, operated International Commercial Insurance in Long Beach.
   The case stemmed from a CDI investigation that found in 2003 Diaz had collected at least $13,507 in insurance premiums from five trucking companies and instead of sending payments to the insurance companies, Diaz kept the money. She later issued bogus proof-of-insurance documents to the five victims. The CDI found that Diaz was unlicensed and Macias allowed her to illegally conduct the insurance business through his office.
   For aiding and abetting Diaz, Macias was convicted on two misdemeanor counts of transacting insurance without a license. He was sentenced to three years summary probation, 30 days of community service and ordered to pay restitution and court fees.
   Diaz, who had already been in jail for more than 10 months, pleaded guilty to five felony counts of grand theft. Her four-year-and-four-month sentence was suspended in light of her time already served in the county jail. She was also ordered to serve five years formal probation, and pay a fine, court fees, and restitution for the amount of the theft.