Brawley woman sentenced for disability insurance fraud

Teresa Baker, 60, was sentenced yesterday in Imperial County Superior Court to 30 days in jail, 60 days home detention, three years formal probation and ordered to pay restitution of $124,029 after fraudulently collecting monthly payments on disability insurance while working full-time at three different employers.

Baker was arrested on June 30, 2017, and subsequently pleaded guilty to one felony count of insurance fraud on Jan. 4, 2018. The case was prosecuted by the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office.

“Thanks to our hard-working detectives, another fraudster has been brought to justice,” said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. “We will continue to work with our district attorney partners to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who try and game the system.”

A California Department of Insurance press release explained that Baker claimed an injury to her back in October 1998 after a fall while employed by Valley Independent Bank in El Centro.

Due to the alleged injury, Baker claimed to the insurer she was unable to work.

The California Department of Insurance launched an investigation after receiving a referral from the Standard Insurance Company claiming Baker had been working from May 2007 through October 2013 while collecting disability benefits.

The investigation revealed Baker collected more than $100,000 in disability payments to which she was not entitled.

During this same time, Baker worked for the Brawley Public Scales, Sun Community Federal Credit Union and the Brawley School District as a substitute teacher.