‘Dr. Taxes’ in Georgia Charged With Taking Workers’ Comp Premiums From Clients

www.insurancejournal.com, September 10, 2024

A businessman in south Georgia who called his business a tax preparation site for immigrants is now facing multiple charges that he swindled clients out of thousands of dollars in workers’ compensation insurance premiums.

Emmanuel Torres Cruz, 34, was arrested late last month after a seven-month investigation by the Georgia Board of Workers’ Compensation, the board’s enforcement division said in a bulletin Monday. Known as Dr. Taxes, in Moultrie, Georgia, Torres allegedly misrepresented himself as an insurance agent and certified public accountant, then told clients that he had procured workers’ comp coverage for them.

The investigation “revealed that Cruz had stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars from victims who were under the impression they had workers’ compensation insurance coverage,” the division said.

Torres was booked into the Colquitt County Jail, charged with 23 counts of insurance fraud and two counts of deceptive practices. He may have posted bond and was not still in custody this week, records show.

BWC investigator Doug Williams said in an email that the board is spreading the word about Torres in hopes of finding other clients who may have fallen victim to the man’s alleged fraud schemes. Anyone that has purchased workers’ compensation insurance coverage from Emmanuel Torres Cruz, d/b/a Dr. Taxes, is asked to contact the Board’s enforcement division at (404) 657- 7285 or (800) 533-0682.

News article: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2024/09/10/792034.htm