Officials Say California Family Arraigned for Auto Insurance Fraud Filed 40-Plus Claims

Shannon Ninio, 60, of North Hills was arraigned for insurance fraud after a California Department of Insurance investigation found she and her husband, Moshe Ninio, allegedly stole customers’ personal information and used that information to file more than 40 fraudulent auto insurance claims and collect nearly $200,000.

Moshe Ninio was arraigned on 18 felony counts of insurance fraud on Dec. 22, 2023. The Ninios’ son-in-law, Ivan Lebedynets, 33, of Winnetka, was also arraigned earlier this week for his alleged involvement in the scheme.

The CDI began its investigation after an insurance company alleged that Moshe Ninio, owner of AT Car Rental, stole the identities of his customers to obtain auto insurance policies in their name to insure his fleet of rental cars. Shannon Ninio was also owner of the company and Lebedynets was their employee.

The investigation reportedly found that when their customers would get into legitimate accidents, Moshe Ninio would file insurance claims impersonating his identity theft victims who were listed as the policyholder. While posing as that policyholder, he would allegedly claim he gave permission to a “friend,” who was actually the current vehicle renter, to drive the vehicle, all to disguise their rental car business.

Shannon Ninio and Lebedynets also allegedly posed as policyholders for many of the claims. Between September 2018 and July of 2020, 47 auto insurance claims were filed under the fraudulent policies. The total paid loss for the claims was reportedly $192,282.

During the course of the investigation, 15 individuals listed as policyholders were interviewed and the majority of the identity theft victims stated they had previously rented vehicles from Moshe Ninio, according to investigators.

They also reportedly stated that they never opened any of the fraudulent insurance policies and that their personal information was used without their permission.

Moshe and Shannon Ninio were arrested Dec. 21, 2023. Lebedynets self-surrendered and was arraigned on Jan. 29. All three are scheduled to return to court on April 10. The case is being prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.