Texas Insurance Agent Charged With Fraud

Jan. 27--MCALLEN -- A local insurance agent was arrested in connection with various counts of mail fraud and identity theft.

Edinburg resident San Juana Lopez was arrested Thursday morning and was taken before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dorina Ramos, according to information released by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

She was charged with five counts of mail fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft.

Court records show that from 2007 to 2008, Lopez sold Medicare Advantage plans for a Care Improvement Plus, a San Antonio-based insurance company. Lopez allegedly illegally obtained identifying information and enrolled various clients without their knowledge or their consent.

Lopez then sold life insurance policies for United Funeral Directors Benefit Life Insurance Company for preplanned funerals, but she is also accused of enrolling clients without their knowledge or consent. Furthermore, Lopez is accused of using bank information from the victims to make premium payments on the policies, thus receiving thousands of dollars on commissions.

If convicted, Lopez could face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison without parole and a $250,000 fine for each count.

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Ildefonso Ortiz covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at iortiz@themonitor.com and (956) 683-4437.

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