Encino trucking company owner appears in court on 30 felony counts
“It is so important that the State of California employs investigators who work to protect consumers and businesses from harm by looking into reports of alleged fraud. These investigators have the tools, resources and knowledge to determine if crimes have been committed.”
– CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
LOS ANGELES — On January 17, 2024, the California Department of Insurance (CDI) issued a press release urging business owners to verify the insurance coverage for any subcontractor or vendor they do business with. CDI recommends this proactive practice to protect a business from uninsured losses. The reminder was issued as trucking company owner and operator Raymond Youash, 37, of Encino, appeared in court on 30 felony counts of unauthorized use of personal identifying information and forgery. A CDI investigation found he allegedly created and distributed fraudulent insurance documentation to the businesses that employed him.
CDI launched the investigation against Youash after receiving a complaint from an insurance broker. The investigation found that for nearly a year, Youash allegedly created at least 13 fraudulent certificates of insurance and submitted them to 12 different employers and/or prospective employers. It is alleged that each of the fraudulent certificates contained forged signatures of licensed insurance agents as well as false information regarding insurance coverage.
Youash allegedly created and submitted the fraudulent insurance certificates in an effort to deceive businesses into believing he had the proper insurance coverage so they would hire him. According to CDI, Youash not having insurance coverage as required by law, put these businesses at risk of great financial loss.
Youash appeared in court on January 17th for a preliminary hearing. He was arraigned December 14, 2023. This case is being prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
