Alleged Family-Run Auto Insurance Fraud Ring Snared in California
California Department of Insurance detectives arrested seven suspects on 31 felony charges of auto insurance fraud for their alleged involvement in a family-run organized auto fraud ring dubbed Operation Car Seats.
Suspects allegedly filed dozens of fraudulent false insurance claims using receipts for high-end child car seats costing an average of $950 each to claim a higher undeserved payout from insurers.
The fraud resulted in a nearly $180,000 loss to the insurer.
After receiving a tip from the insurer, the CDI launched an investigation which revealed that from 2014 to 2017, alleged ringleader, Lawanda Bogan, 42, of Long Beach, conspired with family members and close friends to file 32 false insurance claims to an insurer totaling $179,106.
The suspects claimed multiple high-end child car seats costing an average of $950 each were in the vehicles at the time of the accidents and submitted fraudulent digitally altered receipts for the car seats to pad their claims to receive higher, undeserved insurance payouts.
The car seats accounted for $77,897 of the insurer’s loss.
The investigation also found that multiple claims were for accidents that never took place, also called “paper collisions.”
To further substantiate the alleged fraud, the suspects submitted digitally altered medical bills and vehicle repair bills.
This case is a part of the Los Angeles County Automobile Insurance Fraud Task Force, which is comprised of the CDI, California Highway Patrol, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Automobile Insurance Fraud Unit.
The suspects are:
- Lawanda Bogan (42) of Long Beach – 18 Counts of 550(b)(1) – Insurance Fraud.
- Jasmine Jackson (31) of Long Beach – 3 Counts of 550(b)(1) – Insurance Fraud.
- Anthony Ficklin (37) of Long Beach – 2 Counts of 550(b)(1) – Insurance Fraud.
- Cozette Baldwin (58) of Bellflower – 3 Counts of 550(b)(1) – Insurance Fraud.
- Natasha Bogan (39) of Bellflower – 5 Counts of 550(b)(1) – Insurance Fraud.
- Claudia Nunez (50) of Carson – 7 Counts of 550(b)(1) – Insurance Fraud.
- Sherrell Scott (31) of Inglewood – 8 Counts of 550(b)(1) – Insurance Fraud.