News: 2010 Press Release

Insurance Commissioner Poizner today announced the arrests of two San Jose men and a Santa Clara woman for allegedly filing a false insurance claim and lying to an insurance company about who was driving a vehicle at the time of a collision.

"Lying to your insurance company about the facts surrounding an auto accident is illegal, and a quick ticket to jail," said Commissioner Poizner. "Do not try to skirt the system or CDI investigators will find you and help bring you to justice."

Sanghee Yoon, 54, was arrested on July 4 and booked at the Santa Clara County Jail. Yoon's daughter, Sae-Young Yoon, 21, and her friend, Yong Chang, 21, self-surrendered on July 6, and were also booked at the Santa Clara County Jail. All three suspects were held on $20,000 felony warrants. If convicted, all three could face up to five years in prison and/or $10,000 in fines.

CDI investigators and the Urban Organized Insurance Fraud Task Force discovered that Chang and Sae-Young Yoon were involved in a single vehicle collision in Sae-Young Yoon's vehicle on December 12, 2009 in San Mateo County. Both sustained minor neck and back injuries. Following the collision, the two conspired with Sanghee Yoon to file a false report to Mercury Insurance.

The three allegedly agreed to report that Sae-Young Yoon was driving at the time of the accident. Investigators determined that Chang was driving at the time of the accident. It is alleged that the three wanted to make sure that the insurance policy would cover the accident, and were afraid that it would not be covered if Chang was driving. All three suspects allegedly made false statements to Mercury Insurance in support of the insurance claim.

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

The Santa Clara 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.