Man accused in alleged $100,000 health insurance fraud
June 24, 2016
Updated 4:47 p.m.
By CITY NEWS SERVICE
SANTA ANA – A Diamond Bar man faces more than 50 felony charges for allegedly billing Anthem Blue Cross for dental work and medical treatment he never received and pocketing more than $100,000 before the insurance company noticed, authorities said.
Thomas Anthony Perez, 51, was charged June 3 with 53 felony counts of filing phony insurance claims for $362,268.82, according to court records. He was paid $101,575.82 before Anthem officials discovered the alleged scheme, Orange County District Attorney investigator Elaine Noce said in court papers to justify a request for bail equaling the expense of the claims.
Perez sustained facial injuries in a kitchen accident in October 2011, which is when the insurance claims began, according to Noce. Perez was accused of pocketing the money he received from the insurance company instead of paying for dental or other medical treatment, Noce alleged.
Perez was released June 17 when he posted $100,000 bail.