San Jose Man Arrested for Filing Six False Auto Insurance Claims

San Jose, Calif.-resident Mohammad Shablid has been arrested for allegedly falsely six separate insurance claims for preexisting damage to his vehicles, the California Department of Insurance announced.

According to the CDI, Shablid 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.

CDI said 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, CDI said 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, CDI said.

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

Source: CDI