Federal Agent Charged in Insurance Fraud Scheme
| U.S. Attorney’s Office March 06, 2014 |
MCALLEN, TX—Reynaldo Gonzalez, 37, has been arrested following the return of a 13-count federal indictment charging wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and making false statements to federal agents, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Gonzalez is a deputy U.S. Marshal in San Antonio.
The sealed indictment was returned yesterday and unsealed today upon his arrest. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge John Primimo at 3:00 p.m. today in San Antonio.
The indictment alleges Gonzalez purchased an accident-only insurance plan from the American Family Life Assurance Company (AFLAC) in May 2005. From February 4, 2008 through March 24, 2009, Gonzalez allegedly engaged in a scheme to defraud AFLAC by submitting fraudulent claims alleging he had received medical treatment for various injuries. To accomplish the fraud, Gonzalez used a physician’s signature and tax identification number without the physician’s knowledge or consent, according to the charges. AFLAC, in turn, allegedly sent several benefit checks to Gonzalez as payment for these fraudulent claims.
The indictment further alleges Gonzalez stated to federal agents that the claims legitimately reflected his injuries and resulting examination by the physician. However, the physician had not treated Gonzalez since 2007, according to the allegations.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison on the six wire fraud counts, as well as another five years on each of the six counts of making false statements. Aggravated identity theft carries as possible punishment another mandatory two-year term that must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. Each count could also include a fine of up to $250,000.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, with assistance from the Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Grady J. Leupold and Linda Requénez are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.