ARRESTS MADE IN PROBE 2 BROKERS SUSPECTED IN INSURANCE CASE.

Byline: Holly Edwards Staff Writer

SAUGUS - Two Saugus insurance brokers have been arrested on suspicion of misusing insurance premiums and forging auto insurance cards for customers in Santa Clarita, who now might unknowingly be driving without coverage, officials said Tuesday.

Jack Hagop Printsian, 62, and his 28-year-old son, Ara Kaspar Printsian, were arrested Monday at their Saugus home and were later released on $130,000 bail, officials said.

The father-son duo faces four felony counts of grant theft of insurance premiums and five felony counts of issuing forged auto insurance identification cards, said officials with the California Department of Insurance.

The Printsians are scheduled to be arraigned in Newhall Superior Court on Sept. 14, court officials said.

Scott Edelen, a Department of Insurance spokesman, said the department wants to see if more victims come forward.

``We think many people may be driving without insurance and don't know it yet,'' Edelen said. ``The number of policies and the amount of money they got still isn't known. We're hoping that as the word gets out, more people will come forward.''

Ara Printsian has operated Citadel Insurance Services on Bouquet Canyon Road since 1995, while Jack Printsian got involved with the business just this year, authorities said.

The Printsians are accused of collecting insurance payments from unsuspecting customers and sending only partial payments, or none at all, to the insurance companies underwriting the policies, Edelen said.

Insurance investigators learned that the Printsians' customers had to subsequently pay higher insurance premiums after other insurance companies discovered they were not insured.

Citadel is not listed in the phone directory and may have operated by- word-of-mouth, Edelen added.

If convicted, the Printsians face up to 100 months in jail and could be ordered to pay a fine as well as restitution and investigation costs, officials said.