“CDI detectives and investigators work year-round to combat insurance fraud on numerous levels.  It’s a crime that can impact companies as well as consumers.  They investigate these crimes and assist local district attorneys’ offices with prosecutions.”

– CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

SAN FRANCISCO — On April 10, 2025, the California Department of Insurance (CDI) announced that five people, including former insurance agents, have been charged in a large-scale insurance fraud scheme involving misrepresented life insurance policies that resulted in fraudulent commissions totaling more than $1.4 million.

Daniel Jon Carpenter, 62, of Morgan Hill, was arraigned on felony charges of insurance fraud, grand theft, and identity theft. Carpenter, a former insurance agent, allegedly orchestrated the fraudulent scheme alongside four co-defendants.

• Natorae Marie Wettstein, 56, of Rancho Mirage, was arraigned on felony charges of insurance fraud and grand theft.
• Blake John Carpenter, 27, of San Jose, was arraigned on felony charges of insurance fraud and grand theft.
• Noah Maxwell Kuh, 26, of San Jose, was arraigned on a felony charge of insurance fraud.
• Alejandro Carlos, 25, of Gilroy, remains a fugitive at large and is wanted on felony charges of insurance fraud and grand theft.

CDI launched its investigation after receiving a complaint from a consumer alleging forgery and insurance fraud linked to life insurance policies sold by Daniel Carpenter. The investigation revealed that Carpenter, in conjunction with Wettstein, Blake Carpenter, Carlos, and Kuh, allegedly misrepresented life insurance policy terms to California consumers while falsifying agent information on policy applications submitted to multiple insurance companies. It is alleged, this scheme allowed them to collect unearned commissions from four insurance carriers between 2017 and 2023.

In total, the defendants allegedly fraudulently obtained over $1.4 million in commissions by manipulating over $2 million in insurance premiums from 28 California consumers. CDI has successfully assisted in recovering over $2 million for the affected victims.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.