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CA Department of Insurance
CA Department of Insurance
CA Department of Insurance

Former Southland insurance agent sentenced in senior fraud scam

News: 2018 Press Release

For Release: October 12, 2018
Media Calls Only: 916-492-3566
Email Inquiries: cdipress@insurance.ca.gov

Former Southland insurance agent sentenced in senior fraud scam

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — David Todd Neuman, 59, a former life insurance agent, of Thousand Oaks, pleaded guilty to one felony count of embezzlement and one count of false impersonation after using seniors’ personal documents to apply for veterans benefits and stealing over $187,000 in benefit payments. Neuman was sentenced to 120 days in county jail and 36 months of formal probation.

 

"I have zero tolerance for agents and brokers who scam insurers and victimize consumers, especially seniors," said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. "Neuman violated the tenets of his license

when he used his position of trust to take advantage of vulnerable seniors and line his pockets with ill-gotten gains."

 

An investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff Department revealed that Neuman falsely presented himself as a financial planner associated with the Department of Veterans Affairs and provided information to senior widows on survivor benefits. He obtained documents from the victims including their husbands’ military records, death certificates, and their marriage certificates. Neuman then used the documents to apply for death/survivor benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Neuman diverted over $187,000 in payments to his own bank account and the victims did not receive any benefits.

 

Neuman’s license was immediately suspended by the California Department of Insurance (CDI). This case is being prosecuted by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and was filed under the Life and Annuity Consumer Protection Program (LACPP), which was established through Assembly Bill 2316 (Chan). The LACPP established this fund to be used exclusively for protecting consumers of life insurance and annuity products in the State of California by both the CDI and local district attorneys.

 

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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.

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