A 14-month-long “ghost broker” investigation has concluded with the arrest of a man accused of procuring more than 1,120 auto insurance policies using fraudulent data and social media apps.
The Utah Insurance Department announced the arrest of Carlos David Garcia Gonzalez in Liberty Hills, Texas.
It is alleged that between January 2023 and January 2026, Garcia operated a large-scale “ghost broker” scheme in which he procured auto insurance policies by submitting fraudulent data online to three different carriers on behalf of predominantly Hispanic victims residing in Utah.
The actions of Garcia, who is not a licensed insurance agent, resulted in $832,000 in premium avoidance. While fraudulently writing the auto policies, Garcia charged his victims more $84,470 in payments for obtaining the policies, according to the department.
The Utah Insurance Department previously issued two alerts regarding Garcia’s practices to warn consumers about purchasing auto policies with unconfirmed agents via WhatsApp or other social media type platforms.
Garcia is charged with two counts of 2nd degree felony pattern of unlawful activity, 2nd degree felony communications fraud, 2nd degree felony insurance fraud, 3rd degree felony forgery and 3rd degree felony identity fraud.
Colorado had the largest cumulative increase in home insurance rates, with costs rising 100.8% from 2020 to 2025. That’s more than double the rise in U.S. homeowners insurance rates, which rose a cumulative 46.8% from 2020 to 2025. Annual increases began accelerating more sharply in 2022, peaking at 12.7% in 2024 before easing slightly n 2025, the report shows.
The average annual cost of homeowners insurance across the U.S. was $2,395. Oklahoma had the highest average rate ($5,298), followed by Nebraska ($4,956) and Colorado ($4,310). Hawaii had the lowest average rate at ($801). followed by Vermont ($924) and New Hampshire ($1,028).
The report blames the climb in rates since 2020 is on a rise in severe weather losses and an increase in the price of labor, materials and repairs.
LendingTree analyzed home insurance data pulled in February 2026 from Quadrant Information Services. The following coverages and deductibles were used: Dwelling coverage ($350,000); [personal liability ($100,000); medical payments ($1,000); deductible ($1,000).
The state’s homeowners insurance crisis took on a bigger focus for regulators and Legislators following the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Insurers have paid out more than $23.7 billion to residential, commercial, and auto policyholders impacted by the L.A. wildfires, according to the California Department of Insurance.
