Two California men have been arrested and a third man is wanted on charges they conspired to steal more than $300,000 in insurance proceeds from victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The Louisiana State Police said the three men misrepresented themselves as licensed insurance adjusters and offered to help customers negotiate settlements with their insurance companies. But the suspects allegedly forged signatures on checks meant for their customers and pocketed the money.
Police said 42-year-old Steve Slepcevic, of Palo Verdes, Calif., turned himself in last Thursday at the St. Tammany Parish Jail. He and 50-year-old Matthew Todd, of Chatsworth, Calif., face several theft charges. Todd was arrested in Los Angeles last week.
An arrest warrant also has been issued for a third suspect, 38-year-old Michael Mekeel, of Henderson, Nev.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Report: Vehicle Complexity, Labor ‘Reshaping’ Auto Insurance and Collision Repair 
Harvard Study Again Stirs the Pot on Demotech Ratings of Florida Carriers 
Property Restoration Industry: A Culture in Need of Repair? 
EVs Head for Junkyard as Mechanic Shortage Inflates Repair Costs 
Want to stay up to date?
Get the latest insurance news
sent straight to your inbox.