Former agents sentenced to a combined 10 years in life insurance scheme
News: 2018 Press Release
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Former insurance agents Ali Kakande, 38, and Sulaiman Lutale, 36, pleaded no contest to multiple felony counts of insurance fraud, grand theft, and forgery after falsifying life insurance applications to collect over $150,000 in unearned commissions. Kakande was sentenced to six years in state prison and ordered to pay $105,129.90 in restitution. Lutale was sentenced to four years in state prison and ordered to pay $45,680.36 in restitution.
"To those contemplating insurance fraud, let this be an example that this crime is a felony," said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. “This is a significant conviction and sentence on an insurance fraud case and it sends an important message to those who commit fraud—we will find you and you will be prosecuted. We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to bring justice to those who rip off insurers and consumers for their own financial gain.”
Kakande and Lutale were arrested in April 2017 after an investigation by the California Department of Insurance and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) revealed Kakande and Lutale submitted over 200 fraudulent life insurance policy applications to various life insurance carriers to collect over $150,000 in unearned commissions.
The investigation found Kakande and Lutale conducted this advanced commission scheme by illegally using licenses from other licensees and obtaining personal information for the fraudulent applications by recruiting applicants with money and promises of free life insurance policies. They also stole identifying information and on some polices had themselves as the purported policyholders.
“Insurance fraud schemes disrupt the economy and cause law abiding citizens to pay more for their coverage,” said Joseph Macias, Special Agent in Charge for HSI Los Angeles. “HSI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to bring down organized criminals that enrich themselves through fraud – with no concern for the law or their affected victims.”
The applications submitted to the insurance carriers contained misrepresentations and fabricated information, including false occupations, income, net worth or beneficiary information. Some of the applications also contained forged signatures of the alleged applicants. Generally, premium payments were not paid by the applicants, but instead paid from accounts owned by Kakande or Lutale, or from accounts opened by other individuals who assisted them in carrying out the scheme.
“Insurance fraud is a serious offense that drives up insurance costs for all of us,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said. “These convictions represent my office’s continuing effort to aggressively protect consumers and businesses from all types of fraudulent activity.” The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case under the California Department of Insurance’s Life and Annuity Consumer Protection Program.
# # #
Media Notes:
- Kakande pleaded no contest to four counts of grand theft, four counts of forgery, and four counts of insurance fraud.
- Lutale pleaded no contest to two counts of grand theft, two counts of insurance fraud, and three counts of forgery.
- CDI’s Life and Annuity Consumer Protection program (LACPP) provides grant funds for the prosecution of financial abuse in life insurance and annuity transactions.
- Ali Kakande arrest photos.
- No photo for Sulaiman Lutale.
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.