The CEO of one of California’s largest vocational return to work counseling centers, Hazel Ortega, 54, of La Habra, and alleged co-conspirators Gemi Bertran, 54, and Elbert Irving, 41, have been arraigned on 31 felony counts for allegedly orchestrating a kickback and forgery scheme that drained injured workers’ educational benefits for personal profit.
A California Department of Insurance investigation found the defendants allegedly forged injured workers’ signatures, submitted fabricated enrollment documents and diverted thousands of dollars in education benefits meant to help injured workers retrain and re-enter the workforce.
“These benefits are intended to help injured workers rebuild their lives,” said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. “Draining those funds through deception is a direct attack on vulnerable workers. We will continue to pursue anyone who exploits the workers’ compensation system for personal gain.”
Detectives launched an additional investigation after an injured worker contacted the department upon reading a press release about Ortega’s prior charges in 2024. When the worker attempted to use their voucher for the Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit program, they discovered the funds had already been exhausted without their knowledge…