View this article online: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2002/10/09/23616.htm
The California Department of Insurance (CDI) Criminal Investigations Branch’s Fraud Division, with the assistance of the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), obtained arrest warrants for six suspects after a lengthy investigation. The individuals are believed to be allegedly involved in a loosely organized auto insurance fraud ring.
Five suspects were arrested by CDI Fraud Investigators and booked into the San Joaquin County Jail. Bail is set at $25,000 for each suspect. The sixth suspect, Kabrina Cabalar, surrendered and her bail is set at $20,000. The six suspects are charged with the following:
Erwin Mikilu Quial, 30, of Stockton, charged with felony auto insurance fraud, defrauding an insurer and grand theft.
Edwin Mark Quial, 25, of Stockton, charged with felony auto insurance fraud and defrauding an insurer.
Elfren Diestro Quial III, 54, of Stockton, charged with felony auto insurance fraud and grand theft.
Milva G. Quial, 54, of Stockton, charged with felony auto insurance fraud and grand theft.
Peou Ouk, 22, of San Jose, charged with felony auto insurance fraud and being an accessory to a crime.
Kabrina Cabalar, 26, of Stockton, charged with felony auto insurance fraud, grand theft and falsely reporting a crime.
According to investigators, the criminal charges stem from three separate auto insurance claims made by the suspects regarding alleged theft of valuable auto parts. In one instance, the Quials falsely stated to an insurance company that they owned a vehicle in order to get coverage for damage to the vehicle, when in fact it had already been sold to other individuals.
Investigators found in July 1998, Erwin and Edwin Quial made a claim to 21st Century Insurance Company for alleged vandalism to their vehicle and the theft of expensive tires and wheels. The claim was for $5,126. Investigators believe that the theft of the tires and wheels did not occur and that the claim was fraudulent.
In Oct. 1998, a claim was purportedly made to Farmers Insurance Company for collision damage to a vehicle that Elfren Quial insured with Farmers. Elfren Quial, Erwin Quial and Milva Quial signed a document, which was presented to Farmers, indicating that a person named Khan Tran had permission to drive the vehicle. They allegedly did not own the vehicle and the vehicle had been sold and transferred two different times. Farmers paid a total of $3,186 to repair the vehicle.
In Dec. 1999, Cabalar made a claim to 21st Century Insurance Company for the alleged theft of expensive tires and wheels from her vehicle. The claim was for $4,234. The investigation revealed that the wheels and tires had not been stolen and the theft was purportedly staged.