Watch CBS News

OC Man, His Wife Arrested For Allegedly Faking His Death For Money

SANTA ANA (CBS/AP) — Authorities say a man and his wife have been arrested on suspicion of faking his death in 2004 so their family could receive life insurance and other death benefits.

 

Orange County sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino says Lucio Rodriguez and Rosa Carrasco were arrested Monday after investigators received an anonymous tip a month ago that he was still alive.

Amormino says the couple somehow produced an authentic death certificate from Mexico saying Rodriguez died of cardiac arrest.

He says Carrasco and her four children since 2004 have received more than $500,000 in Social Security and union benefits alone.

Rodriguez has been living under the alias Santiago Carrasco and working for a Riverside County trucking company. He received both a Social Security number and a driver's license under his new name.

The Carrascos are now facing several felonies.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.