Detectives with the California Department of Insurance arrested nine individuals involved in a complex scheme allegedly targeting more than 230 workers’ compensation insurers and self-insured employers. Siblings Francisco Javier Gomez, Jr., 32, and Angela Rehmann, 38, owners of G&G Interpreting Services, allegedly fraudulently billed more than $24.6 million for interpreting services for injured workers with Latino surnames. G&G Interpreting Services changed their company name to American Liberty Interpreting in August 2012. The company is family owned and operated. Francisco Javier Gomez, Jr., Angela Rehmann, Cynthia Gomez, Gloria Sandoval, Arnulfo Reyes III, Crystal Garcia, and Jamilett Ortega are related.

According to Department of Insurance detectives, over a four year period G&G Interpreting allegedly billed for translation services provided to clinics where the majority of the clinic staff spoke Spanish and there was no need for translation services. In other cases, the company billed for services to clinics where 13 treating physicians spoke fluent Spanish-and again-there was no need for translation.

G&G Interpreting had a substantial operation providing Spanish-language interpreting services across the Los Angeles Basin and Southern California for injured workers receiving healthcare services through the workers’ compensation system. Billing occurred in San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

The investigation revealed that 83,411 interpreting service events exceeded 12 hours in a day-more hours than the clinics were actually open. Detectives also discovered that G&G Interpreting billed workers’ compensation insurers more than $422,000 for the services of an interpreter who was actually incarcerated in state prison during the time the company claimed she was providing interpreting services; in fact, she is still in state prison.

The arrest operation was conducted by the Department of Insurance with assistance from the California Highway Patrol and the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and San Bernardino District Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Officials carried out a morning raid on a North Hollywood home, which is one of the nine sites investigators arrested suspected conspirators. As the investigation continues, the California Department of Insurance said they need the public’s help to stop similar schemes.

“For example, if an interpreter does show up in the room in a medical clinic as a part of your workers’ compensation case and you don’t need one, we urge you to call the California Department of Insurance,” Jones said.

Investigators are trying to determine whether the owners of G&G, Angela Rehman and her brother Francisco Gomez, opened a new operation to hide their activities.This investigation is ongoing.