Department investigators protect California businesses from uninsured subcontractor
News: 2024 Press Release
LOS ANGELES — The California Department of Insurance is urging business owners to verify the insurance coverage for any subcontractor or vendor they do business with. This proactive practice will protect their business from uninsured losses. This reminder comes as trucking company owner and operator Raymond Youash, 37, of Encino, appeared in court today on 30 felony counts of unauthorized use of personal identifying information and forgery after a Department investigation found he allegedly created and distributed fraudulent insurance documentation to the businesses that employed him.
The Department is committed to protecting businesses and consumers from fraud and investigating cases like these to keep Californians safe. The Department launched the investigation against Youash after receiving a complaint from an insurance broker. The investigation found that for nearly a year, Youash created at least 13 fraudulent certificates of insurance and submitted them to 12 different employers and/or prospective employers. Each of the fraudulent certificates contained forged signatures of licensed insurance agents as well as false information regarding insurance coverage.
Youash allegedly created and submitted the fraudulent insurance certificates in an effort to deceive businesses into believing he had the proper insurance coverage so they would hire him. Youash not having insurance coverage as required by law, put these businesses at risk of great financial loss.
Youash appeared today in court for a preliminary hearing. He was arraigned December 14, 2023. This case is being prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
# # #
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.
