Southern California Residents Arrested in Alleged Auto Insurance Fraud Ring
Authorities have made significant strides in dismantling an alleged auto insurance fraud ring in Southern California, resulting in the arrest of 12 individuals and charging three more after a thorough investigation by the Inland Empire Automobile Insurance Task Force.
The task force’s operation unfolded after discovering unlawful activities involving the sale of California Highway Patrol (CHP) traffic collision reports by Rosa Isela Santistevan, a non-sworn CHP employee from Irvine. The reports contained sensitive personal data of individuals involved in collisions across Southern California.
A coordinated effort involving the California Department of Insurance, California Highway Patrol, San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, and Riverside County District Attorney’s Office ensued. Subsequent search warrants yielded a substantial cache of over 3,500 CHP traffic collision report face pages at the residence of Esmeralda Parga in Pomona.
Further investigation linked Parga to the alleged ringleader, Andre Angelo Reyes of Corona, who reportedly obtained the reports from Santistevan and facilitated fraudulent insurance claims. Parga, along with accomplices, including Anthony Gomez of Jurupa Valley, allegedly coordinated the illegal towing of vehicles to a repair center owned by Gomez. The repair center then extorted cash payments from insurance companies to release the vehicles.
Additionally, evidence uncovered during the operation revealed collusive collision schemes, with one incident captured on video, showing defendants intentionally crashing vehicles to stage false claims. Reyes and four others were allegedly involved in this deceptive activity.
Overall, 15 suspects face charges ranging from insurance fraud to grand theft by trick and false impersonation, with 12 individuals already apprehended. The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case, with support from the San Bernardino County Auto Theft Task Force.
Among the defendants arrested are Reyes, Santistevan, Parga, Gomez, and several others, each facing significant bail amounts. However, some charged individuals are yet to be taken into custody, indicating that the investigation remains ongoing, with authorities actively pursuing all implicated parties.
