Idaho Man to Serve Jail Time for ‘Crash And Buy’

An Idaho man was sentenced to jail over an alleged “crash and buy” auto insurance fraud scheme.

Nicolas Thorne of Jerome County was sentenced for insurance fraud in violation of Idaho code.

On Dec. 14, 2017, Thorne’s vehicle was reportedly struck from behind by another vehicle on his way to Jerome. The next day, Thorne allegedly conspired with the driver of the other vehicle to commit a “crash and buy” where an insurance policy was purchased after the date of the accident.

Within two hours of purchasing the insurance policy, Thorne filed a claim, colluding with the other driver by falsifying the date of the collision, according to the Idaho Department of Insurance.

Thorne and the other driver—who has criminal charges pending against him—both admitted to investigators with the department of insurance that the accident occurred before the claim was filed.