Calif. Man Arrested for Auto Insurance Fraud

Investigators from the Fresno Regional Office of the California Department of Insurance (CDI) Fraud Division, served a warrant for arrest on Ali Saeed Echtibi at his residence in Fresno for his alleged involvement in a staged automobile collision insurance fraud scheme.

A second arrest warrant was issued for accomplice Hamad Mohammed Alkaabi. CDI investigators were unable to locate and arrest Alkaabi; he is currently considered a fugitive.

The investigation was completed upon the request of two insurance carriers, Financial Indemnity and Commerce West. The investigation revealed the suspects were allegedly involved in a staged automobile collision in Dec. 2000.

Echtibi filed a claim for damages to a 1998 Chevrolet Camaro driven by Alkaabi. The claim stated Echtibi lost control of his 1996 Dodge Viper and collided with a 1999 Chevrolet Corvette (driven by another acquaintance of Echtibi and Alkaabi). The 1998 Camaro, driven by Alkaabi, was apparently behind the initial collision and allegedly took evasive action when the Corvette’s T-top came off in his direction. The claim also indicated that the Camaro sustained major front-end damage as a result of it striking a raised concrete center divider.

A body shop owner confirmed that the 1998 Camaro was brought to his shop with major front-end damage in October of 2000, two months before the December collision was claimed to have taken place.

He also noted that the owner of the Camaro made several requests to alter the dates of the estimate, the last being the date of this alleged collision. The body shop owner stated that the Camaro was completely inoperable and was in his possession from the October date to the beginning of February of 2001, when Alkaabi allegedly eventually paid him for the repairs.

As a result of the investigation, two felony counts of insurance fraud were filed by the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office. Echtibi was booked into the Fresno County Jail and bail was set at $50,000.