Two former insurance agents have been sentenced to state prison for defrauding life insurance companies out of $150,000, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced today.

Ali Kakande (dob 3/18/80) pleaded no contest yesterday to four felony counts each of grand theft of personal property, forgery and insurance fraud. Sulaiman Lutale (dob 4/3/82) pleaded no contest to two counts each of grand theft of personal property and insurance fraud and three counts of forgery, all felonies.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Robert J. Perry immediately sentenced Kakande to six years in state prison and Lutale to four years. Kakande also must pay restitution of $105,129 and Lutale must pay $45,680 in restitution as part of the negotiated plea agreement.

“Insurance fraud is a serious offense that drives up insurance costs for all of us,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said. “These convictions represent my office's continuing effort to aggressively protect consumers and businesses from all types of fraudulent activity.”

An investigation by the California Department of Insurance and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement found that Kakande and Lutale submitted more than 200 fraudulent life insurance policy applications to various life insurance carriers to collect more than $150,000 in advance commissions. The crimes occurred between 2011 and 2013.

The defendants conducted the scheme by recruiting clients with promises of money and free life insurance policies, then used their personal information to submit fraudulent life insurance applications.

Deputy District Attorney Scott Dominguez of the White Collar Crime Division prosecuted case BA455892.

Los Angeles District Attorney / case BA455892 / August 1, 2018