Skip to Main Content
Menu
Contact Us Search
CA Department of Insurance
CA Department of Insurance
CA Department of Insurance

Bay Area man sentenced to two years in prison for $250,000 insurance fraud scheme

News: 2019 Press Release

For Release: October 3, 2019
Media Calls Only: 916-492-3566
Email Inquiries: cdipress@insurance.ca.gov

Bay Area man sentenced to two years in prison for $250,000 insurance fraud scheme

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — A joint investigation by the Department of Insurance, Employment Development Department and U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) that exposed a complex unemployment insurance fraud scheme has now led to prison time on federal charges for the man who committed the crimes. Kenneth X. Huang, 41, was sentenced last week to two years in federal prison, three years supervised release, and ordered to pay $259,594 in restitution.

The restitution order included $128,753 to Great American Insurance Company doing business as IncomeAssure and $130,841 to the California Employment Development Department. Huang was ordered to self-surrender by November 8, 2019, to begin his federal prison term.

The investigation revealed that Huang used a false passport, Social Security card and fabricated proof of employment documents in order to obtain multiple insurance policies, each under a different name then bided his time before submitting fraudulent claims in order to meet the eligibility requirements of the policies and to escape detection. In total, he received $128,753 from his fraudulent insurance policies.

“Partnering with insurance companies, state departments and the Diplomatic Security Service, allowed us to stop a complex fraud scheme in its tracks,” said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. “Without our detectives’ actions in unraveling this fraud, the costs could have been much higher.”

“The Diplomatic Security Service is pleased with the success of this case. This shows the positive outcome when federal and state agencies work together to investigate and prosecute all allegations of criminal activity related to passport and visa fraud,” said Matthew Perlman, Special Agent in Charge of DSS's San Francisco Field Office. “We're committed to deterring, detecting, and investigating passport and visa fraud and bringing those who defraud U.S. businesses with fraudulent U.S. travel documents to justice.”

A consumer can purchase supplemental unemployment insurance to replace a portion of the income lost due to unemployment. These policies typically require the policyholder to be employed by a company for at least six months before purchasing the policy, and the individual must maintain their employment during the first six months that they own the policy before they can collect any benefits.

According to Department of Insurance detectives, Huang lied about material information in order to secure multiple different IncomeAssure policies, under multiple different identities. Examples of Huang's deception include providing false names, altering notarized documents, misrepresenting the times of employment, and submitting completely forged documents from companies where he never worked. 

Huang fled to Georgia after being indicted on federal charges in January. DSS special agents tracked and apprehended him there.

This case was investigated by the California Department of Insurance Enforcement Branch, with assistance from the Employment Development Department and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. Huang's probation will be supervised by the United States Probation Office. The United States Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.

# # #



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.

Google Translate