News: 2009 Press Release

Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner today announced that Janet Gail Wroe, 49, of Canyon Country has been convicted of felony identity theft and sentenced to two years in prison after she stole the identity of a senior citizen and forged the victim's name on a Medicare Advantage plan enrollment form in order to receive a commission.

"Unfortunately we see too many people preying on the elderly with scams like these," Commissioner Poizner said. "But our department will continue to work tirelessly to hunt for those responsible for these crimes, arrest them and bring them to justice."

A California Department of Insurance (CDI) investigation revealed that on July 3, 2007, Wroe, a licensed fire and casualty and life insurance broker-agent, tried to enroll a Hawthorne senior citizen into a Medicare Advantage plan, to which the victim declined. Wroe then obtained the victim's personal identification information, completed the enrollment form and forged the senior's signature. Wroe then submitted the enrollment application to another agent, who in turn submitted the application to an insurance company. Wroe then received a commission payment.

On Sept. 17, 2009, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office filed one count of forgery and one count of identity theft against Wroe. She was facing a maximum of four years in prison.

CDI revoked Wroe's license on June 22, 2008 on unrelated charges.

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.