Major Auto Fraud Ring Parked

Special Investigators from Coast National Insurance Company (CNIC) worked closely with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office and the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) to bring down a 46 member auto fraud ring bilking the insurance companies and their customers out of millions of dollars. A joint press conference with the LAPD, District Attorney’s Office, NICB, Bristol West and Coast National Insurance Company was held March 6, to announce the results of the auto fraud bust conducted by the LAPD and D.A. investigators during the day resulting in 24 arrests. “We would like to thank the LAPD and Chief William Bratton for the fantastic cooperation in helping to bust this auto fraud ring,” Jim Sclafani, Bristol West senior vice president of Claims, told the group. “The investigation of the Rodeo Ring was initiated by Bristol West’s Coast National Insurance Company (CNIC) after several referrals to our Special Investigation Unit (SIU) from our claims department were found to have similar fact patterns. The culmination of this extensive joint investigation has led to the identification of 46 suspects,” Sclafani continued. “The investigation identified insurance fraud, identity theft, money laundering and tax evasion. This could not have been done without the cooperation of the LAPD, NICB, Coast National Insurance Company and other victim insurance companies. When Special Investigator Anne Luce found evidence in our claims files of a pattern of suspicious facts, she began a deep investigation and data analysis that led to a two-year undercover investigation of this auto fraud ring operating in California. She compiled the information involving specific attorneys, body shops, players and chiropractors. and submitted it to the NICB, and together the evidence went to LAPD Chief Bratton and L.A. District Attorney Steve Cooley. It was a two-year investigation culminating resulting in today’s announcement.”