An unlicensed insurance agent in Orange County pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing about $27,000 from his customers and was sentenced to 360 hours of community service.
Juan Carlos Martinez, 57, of Yorba Linda pleaded guilty to three felony counts of grand theft by embezzlement and three misdemeanor counts of fraudulent insurance benefit claims, according to court records. As part of his plea deal, dozens of felony counts of grand theft by embezzlement, fraudulent insurance benefit claims and forgery were dismissed.
Martinez was sentenced to 120 hours of Caltrans work and 240 hours of other community service, according to court records. He was also sentenced to four days in jail, or time served.
Martinez took about $27,000 from customers and put them in a personal investment account and withdrew the money as cash, according to the state Department of Insurance. He left the customers without insurance coverage, officials said.
Buena Park police arrested Martinez at a Knott’s Christmas Crafts Village booth in December 2021, authorities said.