Elizabeth Louise Brown, 48, of Canyon Country, a former claims adjuster with Explorer Insurance, pleaded guilty to two counts of insurance fraud with a white collar crime enhancement penalty for crafting an elaborate scheme to defraud her employer, Explorer Insurance out of more than $289,000. Brown was sentenced to four years in state prison and ordered to pay $289,999 in restitution.

According to Department of Insurance detectives, between January 2013 and September 2015, while employed by Explorer Insurance as a claims adjuster, Brown embezzled from the company by adding friends and family members to claims, which resulted in the insurer issuing fraudulent payments to Brown’s co-conspirators. In the end, Brown embezzled more than $289,999 from her employers.

Evidence of Brown’s alleged crimes were discovered by Explorer Insurance when they identified fraudulent checks issued in 87 claims assigned to her. Explorer terminated Brown’s employment and, as required by law, reported the suspected crimes to the department, which launched a criminal investigation. The investigation into how Brown profited from the scheme is ongoing.

A team of California Department of Insurance police officers raided her residence on the 26800 block of Madigan Drive in Santa Clarita in the early morning hours of April 7 as part of the investigation.

“I walked outside and there’s just a troop of (officers),” said a witness who asked to remain anonymous, adding that one officer was carrying a battering ram designed to break down doors.

The witness also recalled seeing a van pull up to the residence not long afterward, where several people from inside the house were escorted by police. “They tucked them in the back and drove off,” he said

Fifteen of Brown’s co-conspirators were also arrested and to date, seven have entered guilty pleas. Another four suspects remain at large and are being sought by department detectives.