Insurance Broker Christopher Ramos Sentenced to Prison For Nine Years for Theft of Client Money

Defendant Christopher Ramos, a 45-year-old Insurance Broker from Santa Rosa, CA, was sentenced yesterday by the Honorable Karlene Navarro to 9 years in prison for stealing nearly $190,000 from clients. From around 2013 through 2016, Ramos operated CDR Insurance Agency. During this time, Ramos obtained money from clients for commercial and individual insurance policies. However, rather than applying the money towards the insurance policies the clients thought they were purchasing, Ramos stole the money and used it for his own for personal expenses. This left his victims without the insurance coverage they believed they had, and open to potential losses and liability. At the time of his crimes in Sonoma County, Ramos was already on probation in San Francisco County after being convicted for similar crimes there.

District Attorney Rodriguez stated, “Mr. Ramos took advantage of his position as a licensed insurance broker and used the trust his clients gave him based on his position to take their money to pay for his personal expenses and support his lifestyle. Worse, Mr. Ramos was already on probation in San Francisco County for engaging in the same fraud there. The court held Mr. Ramos accountable for his actions with this sentence, which includes an order to pay restitution to all his Sonoma County victims.”

The 9-year prison sentence, following a plea agreement reached with the People, includes 4 years in custody, followed by 5 years of mandatory supervision.  Ramos was convicted of 11 counts of grand theft as a fiduciary, forgery, and an enhancement for stealing more than $100,000 from clients.  Ramos was initially charged in 2019 with 38 counts of theft and forgery. There were 21 Sonoma County victims of Ramos’ crimes who suffered a total monetary loss of $189,850.67. Ramos was ordered to pay full restitution. Ramos was immediately remanded into custody following sentencing.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Amy Ariyoshi, assisted by District Attorney Investigator Mark Azzouni. Investigator Leann Borden of the California Department of Insurance headed the investigation.