Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, Fidelity Title, Fidelity Title Insurance Company, Manager Carmen Arruda Convicted of Felony Medicaid Fraud and First Degree Theft, and Issued Permanent No-Contact Order , Bellevue Washington

Carmen Arruda, manager of the Bellevue, Washington office of Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, has been convicted of felony Medicaid Fraud and First Degree Theft. In addition, Arruda has been issued a permanent no-contact order against herself, arising out of domestic violence related situations. Finally, Arruda's boyfriend, Yves Julian Cauvin, is currently scheduled to go on trial for mortgage fraud charges arising out of a straw mortgage scheme.

Carmen Arruda was convicted of Medicaid Fraud and First Degree Theft in King County Superior Court No. 04-1-09650-9SEA. Back in June 2001, Carmen Arruda became an in-home care provider for her terminally ill mother-in-law, June Arruda. Arruda provided 184 hours of care per month, and was paid by DSHS through the Medicaid program.

June Arruda passed away on December 8, 2002. However, Carmen Arruda kept reporting to DSHS that she was still providing the maximum 184 hours of Medicaid care every month, even though her mother-in-law was DEAD. Arruda kept reporting these 184 hours a month of non-existent care all the way until April 30, 2003 until DSHS finally figured out her mother-in-law had passed away. Arruda fraudulently collected over $4,000 from DSHS, by falsely reported that she had provided personal care services to someone who had already passed away.

DSHS was not very amused by all of this, and Carmen Arruda was charged with First Degree Theft and Medicaid Fraud. Because of the severity and outrageousness of the charges, the case was prosecuted by the Medicaid Fraud Unit of the Washington Attorney General's Office. Arruda pleaded guilty as charged to both of these felonies. Arruda could have gotten up to 10 years in prison, since First Degree Theft is a Class B Felony. But theft sentences in Washington for first-time felons are pretty light, so Arruda was able to plea bargain only got some community service and probation.

Carmen Arruda also has a permanent anti-harassment no-contact order that has been issued against her. King County District Court No. 57-000167. This protection order was obtained by Patrick Cauvin, the brother of her boyfriend Yves Julian Cauvin.

In his petition, Patrick Cauvin explains that Carmen Arruda had frequently visited his home while she was dating Yves Julian Cauvin. Patrick Cauvin describes Arruda as verbally abusive and confrontation, especially when drinking. He further complains of continued arguments and confrontation and considers Arruda unstable, tempermental and abusive. Patrick Cauvin also describes a domestic violence incident where Arruda assaulted Yves Julian Cauvin by cutting his eye.

Carmen Arruda did not even show up at the hearing to contest these allegations. Judge Peter Nault heard the petition, and granted Patrick Cauvin a PERMANENT anti-harassment order to keep him safe from Carmen Arruda.

Yves Julian Cauvin, the boyfriend of Arruda, is a career criminal who already has six felony convictions to his record -- mostly for various types of fraud, but one involving First Degree Kidnapping of an ex-girlfriend in revenge for being reported to CPS for child abuse against the ex-girlfriend's son. Yves Julian Cauvin is currently facing the possibility of a seventh felony conviction, and is charged with First Degree Theft in King County Superior Court No. 08-1-11633-2SEA, in connection with mortgage fraud involving an alleged straw buyer scheme. Cauvin is also charged with stalking his ex-wife in violation of a permanent no-contact order in Lake Forest Park Municipal Court No. CC-220. Cauvin is presently being held in the King County Jail, in lieu of $15,000 bail.