Suspect Arrested on Auto Insurance Fraud

Molly
October 2, 2008 12:09 PM

LOS ANGELES - Commissioner Poizner announced the arrest of a North Hollywood man in connection with filing a false insurance claim.  Howard Jasmir Garcia, 23, was booked by the Los Angeles Police Department today and is being held on $25,000 bail.  If he is found guilty, Garcia could face a 2-5 year prison sentence and pay up to $50,000, or double the amount of fraud committed, whichever is greater. 

On February 6, 2008, Garcia rear-ended another driver.  On the same day, he allegedly purchased an online automobile insurance policy, and said that the collision occurred after the policy's inception.  An investigation and cellular telephone records revealed that Garcia was allegedly uninsured at the time of the collision, and had obtained the coverage afterwards.  The potential loss for the claim was $30,000. 

The case is being prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.