Brothers Arrested for Auto Insurance Fraud

Ventura County (Calif.) District Attorney Gregory Totten announced that Armando Lopez (DOB 12/24/82) and his brother Fernando Lopez (DOB 5/10/84), both from Oxnard , were arrested and charged with felony auto insurance fraud. Both defendants have pled not guilty.

The case is set for an early disposition conference on Oct. 21, 2008, and a preliminary hearing on Oct. 28, 2008.

It is alleged that a 2006 Nissan Altima was falsely reported stolen to the Oxnard Police Department and to Progressive Insurance. The Altima, however, was equipped with a LoJack device which was activated less than two hours after it was reported “stolen.” Oxnard police officers located the vehicle parked on North 5 th Street in Oxnard. Since the Altima was parked and unattended, Oxnard officers contacted VENCAT detectives to monitor the vehicle.

At approximately 1:50 p.m. on Sept. 26, VENCAT detectives observed a Chevrolet truck arrive and park next to the Altima. One of the two male occupants reportedly got out of the truck and began removing items from the Altima, placing them in the truck. The two males then drove away in the truck, abandoning the Altima. After the truck left the scene, it was stopped by the police. The occupants, later identified as Armando and Fernando Lopez, were arrested.

If convicted of auto insurance fraud, the Lopez brothers face a maximum penalty of five years in state prison, and a fine of up to $50,000.