RALEIGH, N.C., March 27, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- MJM, Inc., the global leader in insurance fraud mitigation and claims investigative services, working with a national insurance company, successfully aided in the arrest and conviction of three California men for staging a fraudulent traffic collision.
Gerardo Garcia was arrested on one count of Conspiracy to commit Insurance Fraud, one count of Assault with a Deadly Weapon and five counts of Insurance Fraud. Along with Garcia, Marisol Zuniga and Willie Murcia staged a collision ring.
On September 28, 2005, Garcia, Marisol and Murcia entered into a criminal conspiracy to stage a traffic collision on a Los Angeles-area freeway. They ultimately targeted a commercial truck driven by an Inglewood, CA resident who was insured by MJM's client. After making a target identification, Garcia, the driver, placed his borrowed vehicle in the path of the insured vehicle and slammed on the brakes in what is commonly referred to as a "Swoop and Squat" staged collision. The insured driver was unable to react quickly enough and collided with the rear of the suspect's vehicle. Garcia, Zuniga and Murcia made a claim through the carrier.
Operating as the client's Special Investigations Unit, MJM was requested to conduct interviews as well as collect police reports pertaining to the loss. Upon review of the completed investigation, MJM determined the file should be presented to the California Department of Insurance for further review.
Garcia plead guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Insurance Fraud, one Count of Assault with means likely to cause Great Bodily Harm and two counts of Insurance Fraud, specifically, making a false statement to the insurance company and receiving money through a staged traffic collision. He was sentenced to four years in prison, and ordered to pay $21,000 in restitution to the carrier. Zuniga and Murcia plead guilty to Insurance Fraud and identified Garcia and another individual as the instigators of the collision. Murcia and Zuniga were sentenced to five years formal felony probation and each ordered to pay $21,000 restitution to the carrier, plus other fees and fines.
About MJM, Inc.
MJM Inc., headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is the international leader in providing a wide variety of investigative products and services to insurance carriers, self-insured corporations and third-party administrators. MJM provides quality field investigations, comprehensive SIU programs, strategic anti-fraud planning, innovative educational courses, integrated Internet-based technologies and professional consulting services. For more information, visit www.mjminc.com.
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