North Hollywood Couple Held in $1.4-Million Insurance Scam
Federal authorities on Tuesday arrested a North Hollywood couple in connection with what officials called “a massive scam” in which the pair allegedly netted at least $1.4 million from dozens of health insurance companies by filing phony claims.
Arrested at their home were Mordo Danyali, 52, and Jacqueline Danyali, 48. Each was charged with two counts of mail fraud. An arrest warrant on similar charges was issued for Roza Cohen, an Israeli citizen who officials said is related to the Danyalis.
The arrests came out of an extensive joint investigation by the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the California Insurance Department.
Assistant U.S. Atty. Ellyn Marcus Lindsay, who is prosecuting the case, said in a statement Tuesday that the defendants used seven mailbox addresses throughout the San Fernando Valley to accept insurance payments that they generated through manufactured names of laboratory and billing companies.
The couple operated a storefront medical testing laboratory to further the scam, officials said.
Authorities seized the Danyalis’ bank accounts and cars that they said had been purchased with the proceeds from the alleged scam. They said they would also try to seize the Danyalis’ home.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
