Second Bakersfield dental assistant charged for insurance fraud and theft
News: 2020 Press Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Registered dental assistant Alma Almendariz, 35, was booked today into Kern Court Jail on multiple felony counts of insurance fraud, identity theft, and grand theft after allegedly falsifying insurance claims to AFLAC in order to receive undeserved payouts.
An investigation by the Department of Insurance revealed Almendariz, who worked at the same dental office as previously arraigned suspect Maria Uranday, used insider knowledge gained from working at a dental practice to submit fraudulent insurance claims to AFLAC for procedures that were not performed.
Each claim submitted by Almendariz contained falsified documentation and also used the personal identifying information of her former employer. Almendariz allegedly submitted 23 fraudulent claims to AFLAC for her and her son. AFLAC paid Almendariz $10,165 based on her fraudulent insurance claims.
Almendariz was booked today into Kern County Jail and bail was set at $690,000. Almendariz is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday, July 10, 2020. The Kern County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting this case and the case against Uranday; however, the cases are separate and the suspects are not charged together.
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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.
