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

Palmdale insurance agents allegedly stole identities to gain $125,000 in unearned commissions

News: 2022 Press Release

For Release: June 2, 2022
Media Calls Only: 916-492-3566
Email Inquiries: cdipress@insurance.ca.gov

Palmdale insurance agents allegedly stole identities to gain $125,000 in unearned commissions

LOS ANGELES – Palmdale insurance agents Matthew Evans, 33, and Crystal Ezeb, 30, were arraigned today in Los Angeles County Superior Court, on 11 felony counts each of identity theft, grand theft, and attempted grand theft after stealing identities of other insurance agents to gain over $125,000 in unearned commissions.

The California Department of Insurance began an investigation after having received complaints from two insurance companies stating that three licensed insurance agents, not including Evans or Ezeb, submitted dozens of fraudulent life insurance applications in order to obtain commission payments from the insurance companies.

The investigation revealed Evans and Ezeb, of M&C Agency Corp., stole the identities of those three agents and one other agent to submit the fraudulent insurance applications. They submitted these false applications in order to collect advanced commissions that they did not actually earn.

The Department has initiated administrative actions seeking to revoke Evans and Ezeb’s insurance licenses. They are both scheduled to return to court on July 15, 2022. The case is being prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. 

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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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