Auto insurance claims adjuster Paul Poizner, cousin of California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, has been charged with 60 counts of auto insurance fraud and embezzlement, the
Los Angeles Times reported.
Paul Poizner, an adjuster for California Casualty Management, is accused of submitting auto claims totaling more than the repair cost and pocketing the difference – an estimated $300,000. The scheme was discovered during a California Casualty audit of claims submitted between May 2008 and February 2009.
The Department of Insurance was informed of California Casualty’s findings in March, and Steve Poizner recused himself from the investigation.
Paul Poizner pleaded not guilty to the charges on Jan. 22 and had bail set at $294,000.