Truth Gets Flushed Down the Drain

A joint investigation by the CDI Criminal Investigations Branch, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, the Insurance Fraud Unit and HIH Insurance Company led to the conviction of Jesus Evaristo Gonzalez of Palmdale. The 39-year-old man pled guilty to workers’ compensation insurance fraud on Dec. 26, 2000. A sentencing hearing in Los Angeles County Superior Court was scheduled for this month, and Gonzalez could face up to five years in state prison.

According to investigators, Gonzalez threatened his employer, Roto Rooter Plumbing Service, by telling them that should he be terminated, he would file a false workers’ comp claim. Upon being terminated, Gonzalez did exactly as he said and filed a fraudulent claim. The investigation revealed that Gonzalez not only made false statements to his employer, his physician and the insurance examiner about the nature and extent of his alleged injuries, but he also made false statements about his injuries in a sworn deposition.