News: 2009 Press Release

California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner today announced that Kerry Urban Hunter, 50, of Inglewood has pled guilty to felony grand theft and was sentenced Nov. 6 to five years probation, ordered to pay $5,100 in restitution to an insurance company, $5,000 in restitution to CDI for investigative costs and $460 in fines and penalties.

"Defrauding an insurance company is illegal and will get you arrested," said Commissioner Poizner. "CDI investigators and detectives work around the clock to stop criminals who defraud insurers and drive up the cost of insurance for everyone."

According to CDI investigators, in 2008 Hunter allegedly received $5,177 in advance commissions from an unsuspecting life insurer after submitting 18 bogus insurance applications on behalf of nine people for supplemental medical policies.

The insurance company conducted its own investigation after noticing that a high number of applications were cancelled due to premium payments returned for insufficient funds. It was discovered that Hunter used his bank checking account information on the applications and that the applications contained incorrect dates of birth, social security numbers and addresses.

Attempts by the life insurer to locate the applicants were not successful. CDI Investigators were able to locate one individual identified on one of the bogus applications. The man said he did not know Hunter and had no intentions of purchasing a policy from him.

The case was prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Hunter's insurance license has been revoked and will take effect Nov. 29, 2009. He was arrested on Oct. 9, 2009.

Commissioner Poizner oversees 16 CDI Enforcement Branch regional offices throughout the state. Approximately 1,900 insurance fraud-related arrests have been made by the Department of Insurance's enforcement division since Commissioner Poizner took office in 2007 - more arrests than have been made during any other two year period, under any previous insurance commissioner.