The Camera Never Lies

Following an investigation by the California Department of Insurance (CDI) Fraud Division, Raymond Ellis Wilson, 36, an Orange County resident, pled guilty in Orange County Superior Court to one felony count of insurance fraud.

Wilson was arrested on four felony counts of insurance fraud. When booked into Orange County Central Jail, bail was set at $10,000. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.

In July 2000, Lori Beall was involved in a rear-end collision with another vehicle operated by Kaileen Cassedy. After Beall and Cassedy inspected the minor damage to the vehicles, Beall accepted full responsibility for the accident and asked Cassedy to forward a damage estimate.

Days later, Beall received a phone call from Raymond Wilson, the owner of the damaged automobile. Wilson claimed the repair estimate for his automobile was about $3,500. Beall asked Wilson to send photographs of the vehicle to verify the alleged damage caused in the collision. Upon reviewing the photographs, Beall concluded the automobile she struck was not the one photographed. She referred Wilson to her carrier for reimbursement, and notified that carrier that she felt the claim was fraudulent and merited investigation.

Beall’s carrier hired an accident reconstructionist to review photographs of both vehicles involved in the accident. It was determined Beall could not have caused the damage to Wilson’s automobile. A review by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) confirmed that most of the body damage that allegedly occurred in the collision could not have occurred as stated by Wilson. Based on their investigation, Beall’s insurance carrier denied Wilson’s claim, for which nothing was paid.

Photos also played a role in the arrest of Yuba City resident Santokh Sandher, who was charged with seven felony counts of insurance fraud, grand theft and attempted grand theft. Sandher, 35, was booked into the Sutter County Jail. Bail was set at $15,000. If convicted, Sandher could face up to five years in state prison and/or a maximum fine of $50,000. The Sutter County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.

According to the CDI, in October 2000, Sandher reported to his insurance company that major parts on his truck were stolen and replaced with old parts while the truck was parked in front of his residence. The alleged swapped parts listed were the engine, transmission, muffler, tailpipe, alternator, carburetor and wheels.

Two independent appraisers inspected the truck and found no evidence that any of the parts had been replaced. The dealer who sold the truck to Sandher approximately two months prior to the alleged incident identified pictures of the wheels, which were installed by the dealership prior to Sandher’s purchase of the truck. Although the total loss was estimated at $2,800, Western United Insurance Company paid only $500 on this claim.

Topics Auto Fraud