A former insurance agent pleaded guilty Tuesday and was immediately ordered to perform 200 hours of community service for defrauding about $105,000 from several business owners.
Alan Amir Yousefi, who was doing business as Vanak Insurance Services, stole workers’ compensation premiums from clients and used the money for gambling, sports equipment and designer clothes, according to the California Department of Insurance.
Yousefi gave the clients bogus certificates to cover up the theft.
The scheme was uncovered when a construction company realized Yousefi did not place coverage when one of its employees filed a workers’ compensation claim, according to the department.
The fraud occurred between May 2014 and August 2015.
Yousefi, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of fraudulent insurance benefit claim, two counts of forgery and four counts of grand theft, all felonies.
As part of the plea deal a sentencing enhancement for aggravated white collar crime between $100,000 to $500,000, three counts of grand theft and one count of fraudulent insurance benefit claim were dismissed.
Yousefi will have to serve 270 days in jail if he fails to complete the community service by July 6, 2022, according to court records.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Larry Yellin set restitution at $95,425.60 plus 10% interest from the date of the losses.