Bakersfield woman charged with 127 felony counts of insurance fraud and grand theft
News: 2020 Press Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Leilani King, 40, was charged with 127 felony counts of insurance fraud and grand theft after allegedly submitting over 60 fraudulent claims to her insurance company for procedures that were never performed in a scheme to receive undeserved insurance payouts.
An investigation by the Department of Insurance revealed that between January 2015 and March 2019, King submitted 61 fraudulent insurance claims to Symetra Insurance for medical and dental procedures and services for herself and her dependents. The claims stated the procedures were performed at multiple provider clinics, however; the provider clinics confirmed that they were never performed. King’s alleged fraud led to a $32,221 payout from Symetra Insurance that King was not entitled to receive.
King purchased a policy with Symetra Insurance through her employer. The policy included multiple coverages for King and her four children, including: life insurance, accidental death and/or dismemberment, dependent life insurance, ambulance transportation, surgical anesthesia, substance abuse facilities, urgent care, outpatient hospital, surgical procedures, dental and vision care benefits, among others.
The fraudulent claims were for dental procedures including tooth extractions, an appendectomy, emergency room visits, and sports injuries. In an attempt to substantiate the claims, King provided falsified or fabricated documentation. In some cases, King submitted the same invoices multiple times for separate claims.
King self-surrendered on October 16, 2020. Bail was set at $125,000. She is scheduled to be arraigned on November 16, 2020. The Kern County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting this case.
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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.
