Cars for Cocaine Scheme Results in Fraud Charges

Investigators with the California Department of Insurance (CDI) Criminal Investigations Branch’s Fraud Division announced the arraignment of a Sausalito man on insurance fraud charges.

Todd Demerio Randolph, 39, was arraigned today by a Marin County Superior Court Judge on a four count criminal complaint brought by the Marin County District Attorney’s Office. Randolph is charged with making fraudulent insurance claims and making false material statements in support of insurance claims, each a felony. Randolph is scheduled to enter a plea on Nov. 15, 2002. The charges in this case stem from an investigation initiated by the Special Investigation Unit of USAA Insurance Company, which was later referred to CDI.

Investigators say Randolph and his friend, Regitze Von Luttichau, also of Sausalito, made a total of five separate auto insurance claims to USAA. Von Luttichau and her vehicles were insured by USAA. The claims were for theft of vehicles or for damage to vehicles. Fraud Division Investigators allege that in at least three instances, Randolph rented his vehicles to associates in return for illegal drugs, specifically cocaine. Then at a later date, Randolph allegedly falsely reported that the vehicles were stolen. These false reports were made to police departments and to USAA.

Specifically, on June 15, 2002, Randolph reported to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in Marin County and to USAA, that his 1998 Mitsubishi Montero was stolen. On that same day his vehicle was located in Richmond with an extensive amount of damage. USAA considered the vehicle a total loss and paid out $16,824.

On Nov. 30, 2000, Randolph reported to the Berkeley Police Department and later to USAA that his vehicle was stolen. On Dec. 6, 2000, Randolph’s vehicle was recovered by the CHP after the vehicle and its three occupants were involved in a high-speed pursuit with CHP. The pursuit ended when the vehicle collided into several parked vehicles. Randolph and Von Luttichau filed a theft affidavit with USAA. They were eventually paid $15,894 for damage to their vehicle.

On Jan. 4, 2000, Randolph and Von Luttichau reported to USAA and to the Berkeley Police Department that their 1992 Mitsubishi Expo was stolen while parked in Berkeley. The vehicle was later recovered in a damaged condition. USAA paid out $1,637.

As a result of several allegedly false statements by Randolph, USAA paid a total of $34,355 in direct claims. USAA estimates that internal costs to investigate the false claims are in excess of $9,300.

The Marin County District Attorney’s Office, Insurance Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.