San Jose Man Enters No Contest Plea

Seng Saechao, 26, of San Jose, pled No Contest to charges of Theft by Fraud in Fresno Superior Court. An investigation by the CDI Fraud Division determined that Saechao allegedly reported his vehicle stolen to the Clovis Police Department while visiting for the Thanksgiving holiday in 2001. After reporting his vehicle stolen he realized that he did not have insurance coverage for theft, and then supposedly contacted his insurance carrier and increased coverage to include theft.

On Nov. 24, 2001, Saechao purportedly filed a vehicle theft claim with his insurance company reporting the vehicle stolen after purchasing the increased coverage. He allegedly reiterated this claim in a tape-recorded statement to the claims adjuster on Nov. 26. Saechao continued his claim until confronted by insurance investigators on Dec. 17, 2001. During an interview, he admitted increasing coverage after the vehicle was stolen.

Saechao was sentenced to two years probation, 30 days in jail and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $948.63.