Towing and collision repair firms alleged part of organized crime operation that maintained “Violent Monopoly” in Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Long Island. Alleges hundreds of thousands of dollars of insurance fraud. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., New York City Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill, and New York City Department of Investigation (DOI) Commissioner […]
California Collision Repair Shop Owner Among 22 Charged with Auto Insurance Fraud
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office announced that 19 Santa Clara County, Calif. residents have been charged with operating a fraud ring which faked numerous car accidents. Three additional suspects from Butte and San Benito Counties have also been charged. The fictional accidents – which were often reported as caused by a distracted driver […]
California Detailing Shop Owner Sentenced to State Prison in $180,000 Insurance Fraud Case
The California Department of Insurance announced that Hani Abujudeh, 55, of Rancho Cucamonga, the leader of an auto insurance fraud scheme, was sentenced November 2 to six years in state prison for involvement in the scheme where he filed over 35 fraudulent claims, manipulated used car odometers and vehicle titles to make the vehicles appear […]
San Jose Collision Repair Shop Owner Among 18 Charged with Felony Insurance Fraud
The owner of a San Jose, California collision repair shop, his wife, and sixteen others have been charged with an insurance fraud scam during which they staged 15 car accidents to collect about $150,000 in fraudulent claims. According to allegations by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, the auto insurance fraud ring intentionally damaged […]
Owners of Seven California Collision Repair Shops Arrested in Auto Insurance Fraud Sting
Department of Insurance alleges 40 suspects involved in $560,000 fraud ring. California Department of Insurance detectives and investigators with the Auto Insurance Fraud Task Force yesterday arrested seven suspects, charged an additional 22 who are self-surrendering, and are still seeking 11 more suspects for allegedly running an organized automotive insurance fraud ring that netted conspirators […]
NY Collision Repair Shop Owner Indicted for Tax and Insurance Fraud
New York Attorney General Alleges Defendants Stole Over $480,000 In Sales Tax; Collision Repair Shop Owner And His Wife Also Allegedly Failed To Remit Personal Income Taxes Totaling Over $160,000 New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and Acting Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Nonie Manion announced the arrest of Jose Cardona, 38, on four […]
Arizona Glass Company Owner Arrested for False Claims and Identity Theft
On November 30, the Arizona Department of Insurance Fraud Division arrested 20-year-old Gilbert Martinez, owner of Gilligan’s Auto Glass, on allegations of fraud schemes, insurance fraud, aggravated identity theft and theft. According to the Department, the allegations against Martinez involve the unauthorized use of several insureds’ personal information, details of their auto insurance company and […]
California Governor Signs Airbag Fraud Bill
Makes it illegal to knowingly manufacturer, sell or install a non-functioning airbag. On Tuesday, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 2387 (AB2387) making that state the fourth this year to make it a crime to “manufacture, import, install, reinstall, distribute, sell, or offer for sale) a counterfeit or non-functioning airbag. Other states that have […]
Two Massachusetts Collision Repair Shop Employees Sentenced to Prison in Connection with Auto Insurance Fraud Criminal Trial
Will spend up to four years in state prison for obstructing criminal trial. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced yesterday that two collision repair facility employees have been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to corrupting witnesses and making bribes for false testimony as part of a conspiracy to obtain acquittals at a March 2012 […]
California BAR Revokes Two RV Collision Repair Shop Licenses for Fraud
Bakersfield body shops ordered to pay close to $125,000 in investigative costs and legal fees. The California Bureau of Automotive Repair announced it has revoked the licenses of DM Collins Inc., dba DC’s RV Center of Bakersfield, for fraud and making untrue or misleading statements. The Order of Revocation, which took effect September 13, was […]