January 21, 2015

Federal Agent Pleads Guilty in Insurance Fraud Scheme

MCALLEN, TX—Reynaldo Gonzalez, 38, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Gonzalez is a deputy U.S. Marshal in San Antonio who was previously assigned to the Southern District of Texas. He is currently on administrative leave.

Gonzalez was charged in April 2014. He was set to begin trial next week, but opted to plead guilty today.

Gonzalez purchased an accident-only insurance plan from the American Family Life Assurance Company (Aflac) in May 2005. The plan is commonly known as supplemental insurance and is designed to mitigate expenses incurred by policyholders during injuries that are not otherwise covered by major medical insurance.

As part of his plea, Gonzalez admitted that on or about March 24, 2009, he faxed a claim form containing false and fraudulent information to Aflac headquarters in Columbus, Ga., indicating he had been examined by a physician for ankle pain four days prior. To accomplish the fraud, Gonzalez used a physician’s signature and tax identification number without the physician’s knowledge or consent.

Gonzalez admitted that he was not, in fact, seen by this physician on that date. Further, the last time he was examined by this physician was actually in October 2007.

U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez, who accepted the plea today, has set sentencing for April 23, 2015, at which time he faces up to 20 years of federal imprisonment and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI with assistance from the Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Linda Requénez and Michael Day are prosecuting the case.