Four individuals, including attorneys, were charged after an investigation reportedly revealed a large-scale workers’ compensation fraud scheme allegedly targeted Spanish-speaking workers and involved the illegal sale of more than 1,100 clients generating more than $550,000 in unlawful referral fees.

The California Department of Insurance launched an investigation in 2022 after receiving reports that Spanish-speaking workers were being contacted by a call center operating in Mexico. The callers allegedly promised individuals they could receive money by filing a workers’ comp claim. In many cases, workers were reportedly misled and unknowingly completed official claims paperwork, which was then unlawfully sold to attorneys in Southern California.

The four defendants include:

• Antony Gluck, 55, of San Bernardino, was charged with felony conspiracy and unlawful referrals and was booked at West Valley Detention Center on $500,000 bail.
• Michael De La Garza, 41, an attorney from Fontana, was charged with felony conspiracy and unlawful referrals. He was booked at West Valley Detention Center on $500,000 bail.
• Arely Franco, 42, of San Diego, was charged with felony conspiracy and multiple counts of unlawful referrals of workers’ comp claims. She was arraigned this week and released on her own recognizance.
• Juan Leal, 57, of Riverside, was arraigned on charges of felony conspiracy and unlawful referrals.

From January 2022 to September 2023, Franco allegedly sold 320 clients to attorney De La Garza and his business partner Leal for $168,750. From September 2021 to October 2024, Franco reportedly sold an additional 798 clients to attorney Gluck for $388,500.

The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.

Topics
Fraud
Workers’ Compensation