News: 2010 Press Release

Insurance Commissioner Poizner today announced the arrest of Mohammad Shablid, 48, of San Jose, for allegedly filing falsely six separate insurance claims for preexisting damage to his vehicles.

"When you lie to your insurance company, you commit insurance fraud," said Commissioner Poizner. "Committing insurance fraud is never worth the legal trouble, fines and possible jail time you will face."

He was arrested on June 28 and booked at the Santa Clara County Jail. He was booked on a $30,000 felony warrant. If convicted, each felony charge has a potential 5 year maximum sentence with a $10,000 potential maximum fine.

From December 2008 through January 2009, Shablid allegedly made six different automobile insurance claims with five different insurance companies for two of his automobiles. In five of the claims, Shablid said he was the victim of a hit and run accident. According to investigators, all of the damage he claimed occurred was damage that had already existed on his vehicles, or damage that he had previously been compensated for.

In his sixth and last claim, Shablid said that he was driving and struck his apartment building in the parking structure. In that claim, he included pre-existing damage, for which he had already been compensated. In many instances, Shablid would cancel his insurance policy upon a claim being paid and then open a new policy with a different insurance company. The insurance companies involved included Allstate, 21st Century, AIG (now 21st Century), Esurance, and Travelers Insurance.

Shablid allegedly made material misrepresentations to investigators from five different insurance companies.

The case is being prosecuted by the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office.

Commissioner Poizner oversees sixteen CDI Enforcement Branch regional offices throughout the state. Nearly 2,800 insurance fraud-related arrests have been made by CDI since Commissioner Poizner took office in 2007 - more arrests than have been made during any other three year period, under any previous insurance commissioner.