News: 2009 Press Release

Today Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced the arrests of Melody Ann Mosqueda, 45, of Valley Springs, her former husband, Anthony Charles Mosqueda, 52, of Stockton and their daughter, Rachel Lee Anthony-Mosqueda, 28, of Elk Grove. The family was arrested as the result of an investigation conducted by the California Department of Insurance (CDI) into alleged insurance fraud.

Melody Ann Mosqueda, a former insurance claims adjuster, was arrested as she appeared at the San Joaquin County Superior Court in Lodi, California on an unrelated criminal matter; she is charged with 13 counts of insurance fraud, money laundering, grand theft and burglary. Rachel Lee Anthony-Mosqueda was arrested last night by the Elk Grove Police Department; she is charged with nine counts of insurance fraud, money laundering and grand theft. Anthony Charles Mosqueda was arrested at his residence; he faces 10 counts of insurance fraud, money laundering and grand theft.

CDI's investigation was assisted by Zurich and Fireman's' Fund insurance companies. Bail for each family member was set at $250,000. The case is being prosecuted by the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office.

"Brazen fraud of this nature is an affront to all legitimate insurance customers," said Commissioner Poizner. "Insurance fraud is like a $500 tax on every Californian, and my department will continue to fight it vigorously."

CDI was alerted to the Mosqueda family's alleged scheme when workers from both Zurich and Fireman's Fund insurance companies independently discovered discrepancies in a claim Melody Ann Mosqueda had handled for their companies. Both companies conducted internal audits and discovered multiple discrepancies in multiple claims.

According to CDI detectives, Melody Ann Mosqueda perpetrated an embezzlement scheme while working for Zurich and Fireman's' Fund insurance companies as an insurance claims adjuster from 2003 to 2007 by allegedly inputting false information into legitimate insurance claims, then issuing payment for fictitious settlements and/or services. It is further alleged that these checks were issued to and cashed by Mosqueda and her family members. The Mosqueda family also apparently created several bogus companies to which Melody Ann would then issue insurance payments and subsequently cash those checks.

CDI uncovered that Mosqueda actually had created and diverted checks totaling more than $175,000, but some check remained not cashed.

Commissioner Poizner oversees sixteen CDI Enforcement Branch regional offices throughout the state. Nearly 1,900 insurance fraud-related arrests have been made by CDI since Commissioner Poizner took office in 2007 - more arrests than have been made during any other two year period, under any previous insurance commissioner.

CDI detectives prepare to execute an arrest warrant on Melody Ann Mosqueda

A CDI detective arrests Melody Ann Mosqueda at the San Joaquin County Superior Court

A CDI detective leads Melody Ann Mosqueda away after arresting her at the San Joaquin County Superior Court

For a high-resolution copy of these photos, please contact Jayne Lucas at Lucasj@insurance.ca.gov.

Photo credit: Jason Kimbrough, Office of Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner.

Also, approximately 27 seconds of video of Melody Ann Mosqueda's arrest can be obtained at the following link: http://www.insurance.ca.gov/video/EnfVideo.cfm. Due to the undercover work performed, detectives' faces are obscured to protect their identities.