DIFI Fraud Unit Case Results in Conviction and Over $2.5 Million in Restitution 

Phoenix, AZ - Following an Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions’ (DIFI) Fraud Unit investigation and prosecution by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Jamie Baltazar, 47, of Gilbert, AZ, was sentenced to 10 years with the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADOC) and an additional five years of supervised probation upon her release from ADOC. Additionally, Baltazar was ordered to pay $2,578,044.24 to U-Haul International Company (U-Haul) and Oxford Life Insurance Company (Oxford Life).

Jamie Baltazar’s charges resulted from her alleged embezzlement of $2,197,000 dollars from U-Haul and Oxford Life by allegedly creating false medical claims in the names of retirees who were not involved and had no knowledge of the claims. Baltazar received the money for the claims and deposited the illicit funds into her personal bank account. The investigation was referred to DIFI Fraud investigators by U-Haul in Phoenix.

In October 2020, Jamie Baltazar was indicted for Fraudulent Schemes, Theft, Forgery, and Insurance Fraud (all felonies).  On January 4, 2023, Jamie Baltazar was convicted of two felony counts of Theft.

“Insurance fraud is never a victimless crime. In this case, the individual stole money intended as a benefit to current employees and retirees to offset out-of-pocket expenses for medical care,” said Acting Director Shane Foster. “DIFI’s Fraud investigators are committed to working with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to bring this type of criminal to justice.”

The DIFI Fraud Unit investigates allegations of fraud to protect insurance consumers and the insurance industry.  Combating fraud helps keep insurance premiums as low as possible for consumers.   According to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud (CAIF), insurance fraud results in at least $308.6 Billion in thefts every year.  To learn more, visit https://insurancefraud.org/.
To learn more about DIFI, visit https://difi.az.gov/about-difi.