Police, Border Patrol Round Up Pennsylvania Fraud Ring

Erie police say they’re rounding up 10 suspects who allegedly participated in a fraud ring that staged car accidents to collect insurance money.

Lt. John McCall tells the Erie Times-News that police are not releasing details because arrests were ongoing Tuesday. U.S. Border Patrol agents are also involved in the roundup.

McCall says the ring would contact the insurance companies of motorists and claim to have had accidents involving those other drivers. The suspects would then also report to their insurance companies that their vehicles were damaged in hit-and-run accidents.

It was not immediately clear what agency will be prosecuting the case. Calls from The Associated Press to Erie County Jack Daneri and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Erie were not immediately returned.