Fresno, Calif. Couple Charged with Insurance Fraud

California Department of Insurance (CDI) Fraud Investigators have arrested a Fresno resident on auto insurance fraud charges.

Kyle Cory Bettencourt, 27, was arrested and booked into the Fresno County Jail on May 22, 2001. He was charged with four felony counts of insurance fraud, perjury, and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud. Bail was set at $16,000.

Additionally, Bettencourt’s girlfriend, Lisa Evans, surrendered at the Fresno County Superior Court Building on May 23, 2001. Evans was charged with perjury and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud and her bail was set at $6,000. Evans’ arraignment is scheduled for June 6, 2001. Bettencourt and Evans could each face up to five years in state prison and a maximum fine of $50,000.

According to CDI Fraud Investigators, on the night of January 20, 2000, Bettencourt was observed by four members of the CDI Fraud Investigations Unit deliberately damaging his 4×4 pickup truck and then abandoning it. That same night, the Fresno Police Department impounded the vehicle for evidentiary purposes.

The next morning, Bettencourt filed a stolen vehicle report, and ultimately a claim for damages with Farmers Insurance Group. On a Proof of Loss statement dated March 23, 2001, Bettencourt reported that his vehicle had no pre-existing damage prior to his claim. In subsequent contacts with Farmers Insurance Group, Bettencourt gave a recorded statement to the insurance carrier and testified in a sworn deposition in which he allegedly made material misrepresentations in support of his fraudulent claim. Lisa Evans also testified in a sworn deposition in which she allegedly provided false statements in support of Bettencourt’s fraudulent insurance claim.