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You are here: Home / Archives for Insurance Fraud

Three Sentenced in California “Operation Bear Claw” Insurance Fraud Scheme

April 17, 2026 By CollisionWeek Editor Leave a Comment

Three Los Angeles, Calif.-area residents have been sentenced for their roles in an insurance fraud scheme that used a person in a bear costume to stage fake animal attacks on luxury vehicles, the California Department of Insurance announced April 16. The defendants submitted claims to three different insurers for interior damage to a 2010 Rolls […]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: California, Department of Insurance, Insurance Fraud

Florida Announces Arrest of Insurance Agent for Fraudulent Tow Truck Policy Scheme

February 24, 2026 By CollisionWeek Editor

Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia announced the arrest of a licensed insurance agent and an unlicensed individual for selling fraudulent commercial insurance policies for tow trucks in Miami-Dade County. Javier Gonzalez Jr., a licensed insurance agent, and Aliba Lamas Alvarez were arrested Feb. 5 by the Department of Financial Services Criminal Investigation Division. Investigators […]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Department of Financial Services, Florida, Insurance Fraud, Lawsuits, Towing

San Francisco Tow Company Operator Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Arson Conspiracy

February 20, 2026 By CollisionWeek Editor

Defendant also received concurrent 27-month sentence for fraudulent auto insurance claims scheme. Jose Vicente Badillo, the owner and operator of two San Francisco Bay Area towing companies, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for his involvement in a scheme to burn competitors’ tow trucks throughout the Bay Area in 2023. U.S. District Judge […]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: California, Insurance Fraud, Lawsuits, U.S. DOJ

Washington State Senate Passes Insurance Fraud Bill with Collision Repair, Appraisal Provisions

February 18, 2026 By CollisionWeek Editor

Legislation would expand the definition of insurance fraud and extend statute of limitations to 10 years. The Washington State Senate passed legislation Feb. 17 that would upgrade insurance fraud to a class B felony, expand the definition of the crime to cover vehicle repair billing fraud and appraisal manipulation, and extend the statute of limitations […]

Filed Under: Feature Tagged With: Insurance Fraud, legislation, Washington State

Pennsylvania Tow Truck Operator Ordered to Pay $379,000 Restitution for Insurance Fraud, Theft

November 19, 2025 By CollisionWeek Editor

Pittsburgh towing company owner pleaded guilty to insurance fraud, theft by deception. Prohibited from working in towing industry. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that the owner of a Pittsburgh-based Vince’s Towing has pleaded guilty to felony charges regarding tow costs inflated by charging “accident services” fees and other deceptive practices. An Allegheny County Court […]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Attorney General, Insurance Fraud, Lawsuit, Pennsylvania, Towing

Insurance Group Urges Federal Task Force on Staged Car Crashes

June 30, 2025 By CollisionWeek Editor

The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies has called on the U.S. Department of Justice to establish a task force to investigate and prosecute staged car crashes used for insurance fraud. NAMIC President and CEO Neil Alldredge sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting the task force, citing the prevalence of coordinated schemes […]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Insurance Fraud, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies

San Jose Body Shop Owner Faces Insurance Fraud Charge After Undercover Sting

March 18, 2025 By CollisionWeek Editor

A San Jose, Calif. body shop owner has been charged with insurance fraud following an investigation by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office. Jairon Escobar, 49, who owns and operates Radiator & Body Parts, allegedly inflated an insurance damage estimate on a vehicle that was part of an undercover operation. Investigators say Escobar added […]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: California, Insurance Fraud, Lawsuits, Mercury Insurance, National Insurance Crime Bureau, Santa Clara County District Attorney

Safelite Settles Insurance Fraud Allegations for $31 Million in California and Illinois

March 7, 2025 By CollisionWeek Editor

Auto glass company denies all allegations in whistleblower lawsuits. Safelite Group, Inc. have agreed to pay $31 million to settle allegations of insurance fraud in California and Illinois, according to settlement documents released by the law firm representing the whistleblower in the lawsuits. The agreements resolve two qui tam whistleblower lawsuits, filed first in California […]

Filed Under: Feature Tagged With: California, Illinois, Insurance Fraud, Lawsuits, Safelite

Colorado Adjuster Sentenced in Auto Insurance Fraud Lawsuit

August 22, 2024 By CollisionWeek Editor

Mastermind of $268k auto insurance fraud scheme sentenced to 20 years of probation. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced August 20 the sentencing of a woman who worked as an insurance claims adjuster and masterminded a scheme to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent auto insurance claims. Colette Palin, 63, of Aurora, Colo. was […]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Attorney General, Colorado, Insurance Fraud, Lawsuits, Travelers

Robert Guynn named Associate Commissioner for Insurance Fraud and Producer Enforcement in Maryland

July 24, 2024 By CollisionWeek Editor

Acting Maryland Insurance Administration Commissioner Joy Y. Hatchette announced the appointment of Robert E. Guynn as associate commissioner for insurance fraud and producer enforcement for the Maryland Insurance Administration. Guynn will oversee the Administration’s Insurance Fraud and Producer Enforcement Division, which investigates and prosecutes civil and criminal insurance fraud committed by insurance companies, producers (agents […]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Insurance Fraud, Maryland Insurance Administration, People

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