Social Media Friends Nabbed In Northern California Staged Auto Insurance Fraud

Susan Lee, 24, Angelique Jones, 20, and Angela Medeiros, 40, all of Sacramento, Calif. have been arrested on three felony counts each of insurance fraud.

The bail for the three ranges from $20,000 to $50,000. A fourth suspect, Krystelmaree Marquez, 23, also of Sacramento has an outstanding arrest warrant. Her bail is set at $25,000.

According to detectives, on Dec. 11, 2011, Marquez rented a U-Haul truck and added the extra insurance protection policy. The following day while driving the truck Marquez was involved in a traffic collision with a Toyota Yaris driven by Medeiros with Lee and Jones as passengers.

As a result of the accident, Lee, Jones, Marquez, and Medeiros all claimed injuries. During recorded statements with the insurance companies, Marquez denied knowing the three suspects in the car, Medeiros, Jones, and Lee, according to detectives. Medeiros, Jones, and Lee also denied knowing Marquez.

It was discovered through records, including Facebook, that Lee, Jones, Marquez, and Medeiros did know each other and they are all alleged to be friends, investigators say.

Detectives estimated the potential loss to the insurance company at roughly $37,359.

Upon their arrest, Lee, Jones, and Medeiros were booked into the Sacramento County Jail on insurance fraud charges, which included providing false statements in support of an insurance claim and participating in a vehicle collision for the purpose of submitting a false insurance claim.

The final outstanding suspect, Marquez, recently moved and attempts to locate her have been unsuccessful. If convicted on all felony counts, each suspect could face between two to five years in state prison and a fine of $50,000.

This case was investigated by the California Department of Insurance Organized Automobile Fraud Interdiction Program from the Sacramento Regional Office and it is being prosecuted by the Sacramento County District Attorney’s office.

Topics California Fraud Auto Digital Marketing