Los Angeles, CA – CEO of one of California’s largest vocational return to work counseling centers, Hazel Ortega of La Habra appeared in court yesterday after being charged with 23 felony counts including insurance fraud, theft, and forgery. A Department of Insurance investigation found Ortega allegedly defrauded at least four insurance companies by forging documents on behalf of unknowing injured workers.
The Department’s investigation began after receiving multiple referrals from insurance companies alleging Ortega, owner of Ortega Counseling Center, a motivational speaker, and author of “From Bounced Checks to Private Jets,” was referring injured workers to schools which were not approved and not eligible to receive the voucher funds through the Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit (SJDB) program, which provides an allowance of $6,000 to $10,000 for educational retraining or skill enhancement for qualifying injured workers to provide them a marketable skill to re-enter the workforce after a workplace injury. This benefit is provided as a voucher that can be used at state-approved or accredited schools.
The Department of Insurance is urging any injured workers who believe they may have been victimized by Ortega or the Ortega Counseling Center to contact Detective Kuhlman or Sergeant Jimenez at the Department of Insurance by phone at (909) 919-2200…