As a result of a four-month investigation by the California Department of Insurance (CDI) Urban Auto Fraud Task Force in Valencia, two San Fernando Valley residents plead to insurance fraud charges.
Timothy Caffery, 24, and Jose David Duarte, 22, each plead no contest to one count of alleged auto insurance fraud and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud.
Duarte was arrested on two counts of insurance fraud on Oct. 10, 2002. In a plea agreement with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on Nov. 18, Duarte plead no contest to one count of insurance fraud, fined $200 and sentenced to time served. Additionally, Duarte agreed to testify truthfully in court against a chiropractor that was arrested and charged in the insurance fraud conspiracy.
Caffery was arrested on two counts of insurance fraud with Special Allegations, plead no contest to one count of insurance fraud and one count of special allegation,will serve three years in state prison and was fined $200.
Caffery allegedly participated as a driver with other co-conspirators/passengers to file a false insurance claim against 21st Century Insurance for an alleged staged traffic collision on Oct. 26, 1999.
The insured driver Moises Mendez, 31, of Los Angeles, was also charged with two counts of insurance fraud and remains at large. Investigators allege Caffery rented a Hertz rental vehicle and purchased the additional Personal Accident Insurance to file a claim for additional medical payment.
More arrests are anticipated in the case.
Topics California Fraud
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Supreme Court Makes It Easier to Sue for Job Discrimination 
Wildfires Are Upending Some of the Safest Bets on Wall Street 
Undercover St. Louis Officer Beaten by Colleagues Awarded $23.5M 
Trump’s Bond Insurer Tells Judge Shortfall Is ‘Inconceivable’ 
