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Steven Tinto, 50, of Simi Valley, was arraigned Monday on two felony charges of insurance fraud and grand theft. Tinto allegedly pocketed a client’s premium payment instead of forwarding the payment to the insurer and compounded his crime by issuing a bogus insurance certificate.

Steven Tinto transacted business as Outback Insurance Services. In January 2014, Tinto received a $1,500 premium payment on a workers’ compensation insurance policy from a licensed contractor. Instead of sending the payment to the insurer, Tinto pocketed the cash. When a client of the contractor requested proof of insurance, Tinto faxed a bogus insurance certificate that indicated the contractor was insured for $100,000. When the ruse was discovered by the policyholder, Tinto issued two checks to his client as a supposed refund of premium. Tinto’s checks were returned due to insufficient funds and the policyholder was left exposed to the potential risk of an uninsured loss.

This case was investigated by the California Department of Insurance and is being prosecuted by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. Tinto is due back in court on June 8, 2015 for a preliminary hearing. “This case serves as a reminder that fraud is a costly crime for insurers and consumers,” said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones.”Tinto’s alleged theft left the policyholder at great financial risk and their workers in danger because Tinto did not forward the premium to the insurance company, leaving the consumer without coverage.” As of April 30, 2014 Steven Tinto is no longer a licensed agent by the California Department of Insurance.