Pair of Dental Assistants sentenced for insurance fraud

Posted on January 3, 2022

by Dental FraudBuster

The FraudBuster Files

Alma Almendariz – 23 false claims

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Registered dental assistant Alma Almendariz, 35, was booked today into Kern Court Jail on multiple felony counts of insurance fraud, identity theft, and grand theft after allegedly falsifying insurance claims to AFLAC in order to receive undeserved payouts.

An investigation by the Department of Insurance revealed Almendariz, who worked at the same dental office as previously arraigned suspect Maria Uranday, used insider knowledge gained from working at a dental practice to submit fraudulent insurance claims to AFLAC for procedures that were not performed.

Each claim submitted by Almendariz contained falsified documentation and also used the personal identifying information of her former employer. Almendariz allegedly submitted 23 fraudulent claims to AFLAC for her and her son. AFLAC paid Almendariz $10,165 based on her fraudulent insurance claims.

Almendariz was booked today into Kern County Jail and bail was set at $690,000. Almendariz is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday, July 10, 2020. The Kern County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting this case and the case against Uranday; however, the cases are separate and the suspects are not charged together.

http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2020/release063-2020.cfm

Almendariz pleaded no contest in August 2020 to charges of grand theft, making false claims for health benefits, preparing a false insurance claim, unauthorized use of another person’s identifying information and forgery, all felonies. Sixty-two other charges were dismissed under the plea agreement.

She was sentenced to time served in county jail and five years’ probation after pleading no contest to falsifying insurance claims for procedures that were not performed.

Maria Uranday – 4 false claims

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A woman who worked as a dental assistant has pleaded no contest to falsifying insurance claims where she received $2,140 in payouts.

Maria Uranday, 40, entered no contest pleas on Thursday to a single count each of grand theft and preparing a false insurance claim, court records show. Eleven other counts were dismissed.

She was sentenced to three years’ probation, and is due back in court in March to show proof she completed community service.

The Department of Insurance has said Uranday “used her inside knowledge gained from working at a dental practice to submit four fraudulent insurance claims to AFLAC in 2017 for procedures she or her family members never had performed.” Each claim had fraudulent documentation and used the personal identifying information of Uranday’s former employer.

http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2020/release057-2020.cfm