California Vocational School CEO Charged in Worker Education Benefits Scheme

The CEO of a large California vocational return to work counseling center and his alleged co-conspirators were charges in a kickback and forgery scheme that drained injured workers’ educational benefits.

Hazel Ortega, 54, of La Habra, and alleged co-conspirators Gemi Bertran, 54, and Elbert Irving, 41, were arraigned on 31 felony counts.

A California Department of Insurance investigation reportedly found the defendants forged injured workers’ signatures, submitted fabricated enrollment documents and diverted thousands of dollars in education benefits meant to help injured workers retrain and re-enter the workforce.

Detectives launched an additional investigation after an injured worker contacted the CDI upon reading a press release about Ortega’s prior charges in 2024. When the worker attempted to use a voucher for the Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit program, they discovered the funds had already been exhausted without their knowledge, according to the CDI.

The program provides eligible injured workers with $6,000 to $10,000 in vouchers for retraining. Detectives reportedly found multiple vouchers were depleted for schools workers never attended.

According to investigators, Bertran, owner of Nourish the Brain in San Luis Obispo, allegedly billed insurers for students to attend the vocational school he owned and then referred those same students to an unaccredited and unapproved institution owned by Irving, Ortega’s common-law husband. Detectives reportedly determined the students did not attend either institution, allowing the defendants to allegedly pocket the funds.

The investigation also found Ortega Counseling Center, owned by Ortega, allegedly pressured injured workers to sign blank documents, which were later used to submit fraudulent invoices to insurance companies.

Ortega was previously charged with 23 felony counts, including insurance fraud, grand theft, and forgery, in a separate case alleging she forged documents and participated in a nearly $1 million insurance fraud scheme involving illegal kickbacks.

The case is being prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.