West Hollywood insurance producer charged with felony fraud, burglary and grand theft
News: 2019 Press Release
CASE UPDATE
Susan Winett, 64, pleaded guilty to one felony count of forgery and was sentenced to three years of formal probation, 240 hours of community service, and no involvement in the insurance industry during probation.
Cunningham died of natural causes on August 30, 2020, his charges were dismissed.
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Former licensed insurance producer Jon Cunningham, 57, has been charged with a dozen felony counts of fraud, including first degree burglary, grand theft, theft from an elder and filing false tax returns after allegedly stealing more than $418,000 in premium payments. His co-conspirator Susan Winett, 64, of Van Nuys was charged with five felony counts of grand theft for her role in the scheme.
“This insurance scheme targeted seniors, leaving them financially vulnerable after a lifetime of hard work,” said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. “The Department of Insurance will aggressively investigate fraud to protect our seniors from those looking to exploit them.”
From 2017 to 2019, Cunningham, in his role as an insurance producer, allegedly collected premium payments from six victims for commercial liability, workers’ compensation, property, renewals and other policies and used the money for his personal use. Winett’s role in the scheme was forging insurance documents for Cunningham. Their victims’ homes, businesses, automobiles, property, and employees were left uninsured and exposed to loss.
Cunningham enlisted Winett in his scheme to forge policy documents and invoices.
This case was prosecuted by the White Collar Crime Division of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
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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 are urged to call 1-800-927-4357 with any questions or contact us at 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.
