News: 2009 Press Release

Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced that Ian Max Henriquez, 42, of Los Angeles, was convicted of felony theft from an elder on July 21. Henriquez, a former life insurance agent, was sentenced to two years in state prison and ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution, in addition to court fines and penalties.

"Stealing from a senior is a despicable crime that will not be tolerated in California," said Commissioner Poizner. "If you take advantage of a senior, CDI investigators will track you down and put you in jail."

According to California Department of Insurance Investigators, in January 2008, Henriquez illegally completed life insurance company surrender documents, forging the signature of his 83-year old client in order to obtain $100,000 from the client's life annuity policy. When the victim had stopped receiving her annuity policy statements, she notified her son-in-law. Her son-in-law contacted the insurance company, which informed him that the mailing address for his mother-in-law had been changed and that a $100,000 check had been issued in her name against her annuity policy. Her son-in-law drove to the new mailing address and discovered that it was Henriquez's residence. He filed a complaint with CDI, and the Department immediately launched an investigation.

During the course of the investigation, Henriquez admitted to CDI investigators that he forged the victim's signature, changed her mailing address to his address and deposited her money into a business account for his personal use.

This case was prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Commissioner Poizner oversees sixteen CDI Enforcement Branch regional offices throughout the state.  Close to 1900 insurance fraud-related arrests have been made by the Department of Insurance's enforcement division since Commissioner Poizner took office in 2007 - more arrests than have been made during any other two year period, under any previous insurance commissioner.