Woman Arrested in Insurance Fraud

A Palmdale woman has been arrested and charged with nine counts of insurance fraud, conspiracy, grand theft and perjury for allegedly filing false insurance claims, officials said Wednesday.

Ruth Ekong, 61, was booked at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Lancaster station Tuesday and bail was set at $437,790, said Mike Silva, a California Department of Insurance spokesman.

If convicted, Ekong could face up to five years in prison and fines of up to $50,000, Silva said.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Ekong’s husband, Dr. Enobong Ekong, a cardiologist who also could face insurance fraud charges, Silva said.