Christopher Ramos (38) and Jay Trisko (36), insurance brokers from cSolutions Insurance Brokerage, have surrendered to police and pleaded not guilty to embezzlement earlier this month.
District attorney George Gascon said in a statement that Ramos (of Santa Rosa) and Trisko (from Rohert Park) were wanted on suspicion of larceny, for purportedly stealing in excess of $500,000 in premium payments from customers instead of forwarding them to insurance companies.
Both men face charges of grand theft, conspiracy to commit fraud, theft of insurance premiums by a fiduciary and forgery. Ramos is charged with 24 felonies, and Trisko with 26. They are being held on $550,000 bail each.
The two began their alleged scheme in late 2010 and continued through the end of 2012. Prosecutors claim that the duo would collect their victims’ premiums and keep the money for themselves. This scheme resulted in the cancellation of a number of policies.
Trisko was also accused for starting another company, Trisko Insurance Services, which also faces similar accusations of theft.
The charges lodged against the two come from an investigation conducted by the Department of Insurance into the business practices of the duo. Witness interviews were conducted and both companies’ bank records were reviewed.
The two are scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing November 23.
