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| | CA Dept Of Insurance Arrests Nine For $24.6 Million Fraudulent Interpreting Services Billings To Workers' Compensation Payers
By Lonce LaMon - December 18, 2015
Nine persons were arrested yesterday in Southern California by the California Department of Insurance for fraudulently billing workers’ compensation claims payers for translation services in excess of 24.6 million dollars. The family owned business, G&G Interpreting Services, which in August of 2012 became American Liberty Interpreting, had seven family members arrested out of the nine total individuals arrested.
Angela Rehmann, 38 years of age, and Javier Gomez, Jr., 32 years of age, are siblings who were arrested. Five others who are family- related, Cynthia Gomez, 30 years; Gloria Sandoval, 41 years; Arnulfo Reyes III, 22 years; Crystal Garcia, 21 years; and Jamilett Ortega, 33 years were also arrested. Melissa Navarro, 28 years, and Amber Anguiano, 28 years were connected to the family-scam and were arrested. The investigation found that the company had approximately 200 employees.
The investigation is still on-going and has been led by Jennifer Snyder, Head Deputy of the Healthcare Fraud Division, Los Angeles District Attorney’s offices. Jennifer was not available to talk to or write to this writer yesterday in the late afternoon when contact with Jennifer was attempted through the LADA’s media department. However, Nancy Kincaid, the press secretary for the California Department of Insurance answered her cell phone and told this writer that the arraignments will take place either today, Friday, December 18th, or else Monday, December 21st. But according to the schedule issued late yesterday afternoon close to 5 o’clock by the LADA’s office, the arraignments which Nancy stated would happen in court room Department 30, were not on Friday’s schedule. Therefore, it can be conjectured they will most likely happen on Monday.
The super-good-looking Jennifer Snyder, who led the investigation into G&G Interpretings fraudulent activities, is shown here while speaking at the Big Fraud Fighting Conference at the Pala Resort & Casino in Riverside County on May 14th 2015. photo by Lonce LaMon, all rights reserved
There is a lot to sort out with so many defendants being arrested at once, according to Nancy Kincaid. “One is six months pregnant,” she said. She also said that the defendants’ bail has been set at $400,000 each.
The arrest operation was conducted not just by the California DOI but with the assistance of the California Highway Patrol, the Riverside County District Attorney’s office, and the San Bernardino District Attorney’s office. One suspect was arrested at a home in North Hollywood, which was also searched, and the other suspects are believed to have been arrested and their domiciles searched throughout Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Jennifer Synder is a dynamic speaker and teacher of fraud detection for claims industry professionals. She is the Head Deputy of the Healthcare Fraud Division with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office. She is shown here at the Big 2015 Fraud Fighting Conference on May 14th 2015 at the Pala Resort in Riverside County. photo by Lonce LaMon, all rights reserved.
The four-year-period primarily investigated was from 2008 to 2012. Interpreting services were allegedly billed for clinics where the majority of staff spoke Spanish and there was no need for translation. G&G Interpreting billed for services to clinics where 13 treating physicians spoke fluent Spanish.
The investigation has revealed 83,411 interpreting service events exceeded 12 hours in a day. This is more hours than the clinics were actually open. Detectives discovered G&G Interpreting billed workers’ compensation payers more than $422,000 for the services of an interpreter who was incarcerated in state prison during the time the company claims she was providing interpreting services. To date, she is still in state prison.
Dave Jones, the California Department of Insurance Commissioner, was the keynote speaker on May 14th 2015 at the Big 2015 Fraud Fighting Conference at the Pala Resort in Riverside County. He is shown here after ending his speech as he puts his hands in his pockets while listening to an attendee from the audience. photo by Lonce LaMon, all rights reserved
Dave Jones, commissioner of the California Department of Insurance, has reached out for the public’s help during this on-going investigation and into the future, “For example,” he said, “if an interpreter does show up in the room in a medical clinic as a part of your workers’ compensation case and you don’t need one, we urge you to call the California Department of Insurance.”
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