News: 2010 Press Release

Insurance Commissioner Poizner announced today the arrests of a husband/wife pair for suspected automobile insurance fraud. San Jose residents Maya Gonzales, 32, and Juan Torres, 27, were arrested and booked at the Santa Clara County Jail on March 19. Both were booked on a $15,000 felony warrant. If convicted, each could face up to five years in prison and/or $10,000 in fines.

"Insurance fraud is not only illegal, it also drives up the cost of insurance for all consumers," said Commissioner Poizner. "Driving without insurance is a horrible idea, and committing fraud to cover your tracks will only compound your problems."

An Urban Organized Insurance Fraud Task Force investigation revealed that on November 6, 2009, Maya Gonzales allegedly rear-ended another vehicle. Gonzales was not insured, but her husband was. Torres and Gonzales allegedly claimed Torres was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident so that the damages to the victim's vehicle and their own vehicle would be covered under Torres' insurance policy.

Gonzales and Torres allegedly made material misrepresentations to the insurance investigator when questioned about who was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident.

The Urban Organized Automobile Fraud Insurance Task Force is made up investigators from the CDI, California Highway Patrol, and Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office is prosecuting this case.

Commissioner Poizner oversees sixteen CDI Enforcement Branch regional offices throughout the state. Nearly 2,800 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 three year period, under any previous insurance commissioner.