A federal grand jury in Chicago has charged 23 defendants with participating in a fraud scheme through which they allegedly swindled ten life insurance carriers out of at least $26 million in fraudulent benefits.
The defendants submitted fraudulent applications to obtain life insurance policies in the names of various individuals and then induced the carriers to pay death benefits by knowingly misrepresenting the identity of a different deceased person as the insured, according to an indictment unsealed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The fraud scheme charged in the indictment began in 2013 and continued until last month.
Among the defendants are sets of spouses and, in some cases, their children, as well as an insurance agent who owned a side business that performed medical examinations on applicants for term life insurance policies. The indictment seeks forfeiture from the defendants of at least $26 million in alleged ill-gotten gains, as well as nine luxury automobiles, eight Rolex watches, and properties in the Chicago suburbs of Orland Park, Bridgeview, and Burbank.
The indictment charges the 23 defendants with multiple counts of wire and mail fraud. Most of the defendants were arrested Thursday in Illinois and Florida and will be making initial appearances in federal courts in Chicago, Orlando, Tampa, and Miami.
The indictment and arrests were announced by special agents from the Chicago Field Office of the FBI and the Arlington Heights Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, and United States Attorney’s Offices for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida.
Charged in the indictment are:
JAMES MILLS, also known as “Jamie Montes,” 47, of Oak Lawn, Ill. Multiple counts of wire and mail fraud.
JOSEPH BROWN, 50, of Chandler, Ariz. Multiple counts of wire and mail fraud.
JULEY ELY, 47, of Oak Lawn, Ill. Multiple counts of wire and mail fraud.
GINGER ELY, 26, of Oak Lawn, Ill. Multiple counts of wire and mail fraud.
SYLVIA EVANS, 48, of Kissimmee, Fla. Multiple counts of wire and mail fraud.
HOLLY STERGO, also known as “Holly Stego,” 29, of Missouri City, Texas. Multiple counts of wire and mail fraud.
JESSICA VACA, 51, of Deerfield Beach, Fla. Multiple counts of wire and mail fraud.
ANGELA BECHO, 30, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Multiple counts of wire and mail fraud.
FRANK COSTELLO, 44, of Hoffman Estates, Ill. Multiple counts of wire and mail fraud.
JOE ROUGA, 29, of Oak Lawn, Ill. Multiple counts of wire and mail fraud.
MARY BACCO, 53, of Bridgeview, Ill. Multiple counts of wire and mail fraud.
STEVE MONTEGA, also known as “Fonzie Cerano,” 44, of Orland Park, Ill. Multiple counts of wire and mail fraud.
NIKO RISTICK, 23, of Orland Park, Ill. Multiple counts of wire and mail fraud.
TONY RISTICK, also known as “Anthony Walker,” 52, of Orlando, Fla. Multiple counts of wire and mail fraud.
RACHEL MONTEGA, also known as “Samantha Walker,” 48, of Orlando, Fla. Multiple counts of wire and mail fraud.
ROBERT CRAIG, also known as “Jake,” 37, of Lakeland, Fla. Multiple counts of wire and mail fraud.
STEVE VEGA, also known as “Cabby,” 45, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Multiple counts of wire and mail fraud.
SOPHIE BECHO, 46, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Multiple counts of wire and mail fraud.
MARK BLANCA, 30, of Burbank, Ill. Multiple counts of wire and mail fraud.
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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