One car + one fire = six arrests

by MaxHerr » Fri Jul 09, 2010 11:23 pm
Posts: 7886
Joined: 29 Nov 2009

It's a very busy day for the press release writers at the CA Dept of Insurance today:

NEWS RELEASE

Commissioner Poizner Announces Six Sacramento Residents
Charged with Insurance Fraud After Torching Vehicle
to Cash In On Insurance Claim



Insurance Commissioner Poizner today announced the arrests of six Sacramento residents accused of staging the theft of and burning a 2003 Mazda in order to cash in on an insurance claim.

"Setting your car on fire, hoping to cash in on an insurance payout is one of the worst ways to make an extra buck," said Commissioner Poizner. "CDI detectives in Sacramento and throughout the state work around the clock to track down fraud perpetrators. If you commit fraud, we will catch you."

Patricia Hernandez, 19; her mother, Beatrice Hernandez, 47; Juan Saavedra, 21; Angelisa Chavez, 21; Aiasha McGlothen, 20; and Nathan Smith, 18; all surrendered to officials at the Sacramento County Jail. All suspects are charged with insurance fraud. Patricia Hernandez, Saavedra and Smith are additionally charged with arson. Bail for each of the six suspects was set at $10,000. An additional arrest warrant has been issued for Raendy Agra, 22. Agra is charged with insurance fraud and arson. Each could face up to five years in state prison and thousands of dollars in fines.

On February 10, 2010, an anonymous caller notified the Department of Insurance of suspected insurance fraud. The caller reported that Patricia Hernandez staged the theft and burn of her 2003 Mazda. The caller also reported that Saavedra, Patricia Hernandez' cousin, assisted Hernandez in the staged theft and arson. The caller told detectives that two of Saavedra's friends assisted in the staged theft and arson of the vehicle.

Upon receipt of the information, the Department of Insurance Urban Auto Organized Crime Taskforce initiated an investigation. The investigation resulted in a confession from Patricia Hernandez, which revealed that she did allegedly conspire to have her vehicle set on fire in an attempt to obtain an insurance payout from Progressive Insurance Company. The insurance company would have been liable for $10,000 if the claim was paid.

The investigation also resulted in a confession from Saavedra. In his confession, Saavedra revealed that he conspired with Agra and Smith to strip the vehicle and set it on fire. Patricia Hernandez was having mechanical problems with her vehicle when Saavedra purportedly offered to get rid of it. Saavedra allegedly drove the car to a vacant home in Sacramento, where he met up with Agra and Smith. The vehicle was then reportedly stripped. Saavedra and Smith (followed by Agra in another vehicle) allegedly drove the vehicle to a remote location near Garden Highway and Powerline Road, where it was set on fire by Saavedra. After the vehicle was set on fire, Agra drove Saavedra and Smith away from the scene in the other vehicle.

The morning after the stripping and burning of the vehicle, Beatrice Hernandez called the Sacramento Police Department to file a police report. Later, in her confession, Patricia Hernandez allegedly stated that Beatrice was informed of the staged theft and burn of the vehicle the night before the vehicle was reported stolen. According to investigators, Beatrice Hernandez ultimately admitted that she withheld facts from Progressive Insurance Company.

Further, Patricia Hernandez allegedly asked Chavez to lie to Progressive Insurance Company regarding the whereabouts of Patricia Hernandez on the night of the alleged theft and burn of her vehicle. Chavez told Progressive Insurance that she picked Patricia Hernandez up from her home, and that the two ate dinner and watched a movie at Chavez' home. This is allegedly false.

Patricia Hernandez also told McGlothen about the staged theft and burning of her vehicle. When asked by Progressive Insurance Company about the incident, McGlothen allegedly told the company that she did not know who may have stolen the vehicle.

When questioned, both Smith and Agra confessed to their involvement and revealed that they assisted in stripping the vehicle and that they accompanied Saavedra when he burned the vehicle.

The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office is prosecuting this case.

Commissioner Poizner oversees sixteen CDI Enforcement Branch regional offices throughout the state. Nearly 2,800 insurance fraud-related arrests have been made by CDI since Commissioner Poizner took office in 2007 - more arrests than have been made during any other three year period, under any previous insurance commissioner.

================================================

Can't get money from the bank or payday loan store? Sure, just get it from your insurance company. It's easy!! They have lots of money, and can afford it.

On the backs of those of us who dutifully pay our inflated premiums due to fraudulent claims like this that manage to slip through the cracks.

Total Comments: 7

Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 02:16 am Post Subject:

And ya wonder why Calil has arguably the stiffest insurance fraud laws in the country. The only other states that I could find that come close are Virginia and N. Mexico which have fines up to $250k + jail time up to 10 years. Colorado will ruin your life. Colorado can fine you up to $750k & throw you in jail for up to 25 years. Then there's Cali. My company operates in Cali and I wrote our material on Cali fraud laws. You guys don't screw around much, do you? Up to $250k fines (is that per offense?) and jail time up to 16 years.

Now, I know there's more to it than the above numbers, and I also know that if you are in the business and you screw around with stuff like this, you're also subject to 18 USC 1033/1034 whacks upside the head. Spend up to 15 years in Club Fed and pay up to $50,000 per offense. FUN TIMES, HUH?

My hugely progressive legal state has NO insurance fraud legislation. Just a lot of warnings on apps, like "Willfully falsifying material facts on an application or claim may subject you to criminal penalties" or "Any person who, with intent to defraud or knowing that he is facilitating a fraud against an insurer, submits an application or files a claim containing a false or deceptive statement may be guilty of insurance fraud." Boy, that'll scare the hell out of a potential fraudster. In Cali, when you submit a claim, you have to sign a statement acknowledging that you understand that submission of a false claim will get you hung and then shot and then drawn and quartered. I love your laws down in that great country of California...they actually have teeth and it seems as if Poizner actually goes after these scum.

InsTeacher 8)

Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 11:33 am Post Subject:

Colorado can fine you up to $750k & throw you in jail for up to 25 years.


To tell the truth, even $250 per offense is too much for some of us. How about this $750? Is it met per offense too?

Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 09:28 pm Post Subject:

The numbers were $250,000 and $750,000. It's usually up to the judge whether to make a fine per offense or in total.

Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 02:22 am Post Subject: insurance

I think some of you know I'm originally from CA (San Diego). And..the laws there are pretty 'stiff' (not saying there not strict in any OTHER state). God..it sounded like the entire 'family' had a hand in it. These people can't work and pay there monthly payments, like the majority of the world? :cry:

Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 07:56 am Post Subject:

Actually, it was only mother and daughter, and four other friends who either took part directly or knew the details and lied about them.

Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 02:10 am Post Subject: insurance

Actually, it was only mother and daughter, and four other friends who either took part directly or knew the details and lied about them.

The 'friends' are just as bad, then. I'm a MOTHER, too!! I would nevr do such a thing!! I don't know what gets into people's head, sometimes! They REALLY didin't think they would get caught?! :roll:

Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 04:25 am Post Subject:

The 'friends' are just as bad, then.



That's the reason SIX persons went to jail over one incident involving insurance fraud! Maybe they'll learn enough not to try it again.

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