Four people were convicted of felony insurance fraud and assault for faking an auto collision that involved a rideshare driver in San Bernardino, California.
According to the California Department of Insurance, two of the four people were identified as Kalil Davis, 27, of Hesperia, and Ledontae Pope, 30, of San Bernardino. They were arrested for insurance fraud and assault with a deadly weapon related to a staged collision that occurred on January 24.
A previous collision incident was uncovered by the Inland Empire Automobile Insurance Fraud Task Force investigators on November 23, 2024. The incident occurred at the I-215 freeway in San Bernardino and involved Davis, Pope and another individual by the name of John Murillo, 37, of San Bernardino.
An alleged fifth person involved in the most recent incident, Deshawn Perater-Nickson, 26, of Adelanto is due in court January 26, 2026. He was charged with pandering, false imprisonment and pimping.
During the incident, the suspects reportedly ordered a rideshare, and as they were riding, Murillo drove his vehicle into the rideshare vehicle belonging to Perater-Nickson. The plan was to take advantage use the rideshare driver’s insurance and submit bodily injury claims to collect the insurance payout.
The incident was initially reported as a hit and run to the California Highway Patrol, with the suspects claiming to have injuries and then were transported to the hospital. However, the rideshare driver said he believed the collision was planned, and the CHP then reported it to the task force.
Davis, Pope, and Perater-Nickson were then charged with insurance fraud and assault with a deadly weapon by the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office on January 27. During their arrests, it was found that two of the suspects were on probation for illegal possession of a firearm, narcotics trafficking and another assault.
After the arrests, a search warrant led to two other suspects. Murillo and co-conspirator Klydale Moses, 24, from Fontana. On May 19, they were arrested for participating or causing a vehicle collision claim.
Davis pleaded no contest to insurance fraud and assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to 180 days in the county jail and two years on felony probation. Pope pleaded no contest to his involvement of causing the collision and assault and was then sentenced to 90 days in the county jail and two years on felony probation. Moses pleaded no contest to insurance fraud and was sentenced to 90 days in county jail and two years on felony probation. Murillo pleaded no contest to his involvement of causing the collision, but has not been sentenced; he remains in custody.
On Jan. 24, Perater-Nickson was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and insurance fraud. After evidence was brought forth by the task force, Perater-Nickson was then later convicted of pimping, false imprisonment and pandering while in custody.
Topics California Fraud Personal Auto Numbers Sharing Economy
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