CDI Fraud Investigations Lead to Arrests

Investigators with the California Department of Insurance (CDI) Fraud Division announced recent developments in these insurance fraud cases:

·SACRAMENTO COUNTY – Mauricio Acosta, 23, was arrested at his residence without incident and booked into the Sacramento County Jail on one felony count of auto insurance fraud. Bail was set at $10,500. If convicted, Acosta could face up to five years in state prison and/or a maximum fine of $50,000.

·FRESNO – CDI Investigators arrested Tammy Sue Shouse, 39, of Fresno, on three felony counts of forgery. Investigators also executed a search warrant at Shouse’s apartment. During the search, investigators obtained additional evidence of two more fraudulent insurance claims. Investigators discovered evidence that Shouse allegedly staged the theft of her own car and set it on fire to collect insurance money. The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting both cases. Additional evidence indicated that Shouse allegedly assumed the identity of her deceased sister in order to open credit accounts. Shouse used these credit accounts to make purchases totaling over $2,000, which were reportedly never paid off.

·SACRAMENTO COUNTY – A Sacramento man was arrested today as a result of a CDI investigation. Tramane Jamar Johnson, 29, was arrested without incident and booked into the Sacramento County Jail on one felony count of insurance fraud. Bail was set at $10,000. If convicted, Johnson could face up to five years in state prison and/or a maximum fine of $50,000.

According to investigators, Johnson reported his vehicle vandalized and expensive audio equipment stolen from inside the vehicle. The stolen items reported to CSAA Insurance included two sets of audio speakers, two amps and an in-dash TV/DVD. Upon inspection of the vehicle it was determined that Johnson’s vehicle did not have the appropriate wiring to support the stolen equipment. Johnson later reportedly submitted an altered receipt to the insurance company in an attempt to legitimize the claim. This investigation revealed that the receipt used was only an estimate and not an actual purchase receipt. The audio shop manager who wrote the estimate also confirmed the receipt was altered with several items added. The purported stolen items were never originally purchased or installed in Johnson’s vehicle.

Johnson also had an outstanding no bail warrant for grand theft.