Fontana, Calif. Man Arrested on Fraud Charges

A Fontana, Calif. man was arrested recently after he was charged
with multiple counts of felony insurance fraud, San Bernardino County
District Attorney’s investigator Frank Povero said.

Investigators say Armando Herrera had allegedly arranged to have somebody dispose of his Chevy Astro van during a time he was undergoing financial difficulties and could not afford the payments. Another person reportedly instructed him to leave the keys in his van and park it at a service station in Riverside, Povero said.

Herrera reportedly followed the instructions on Sept. 14, 2002, and a few days later, he reported to Whittier Police that the van had been stolen. He then reportedly filed a claim with Unitrin Insurance Company, which had insured the van. The van – set on fire and completely damaged – was recovered a short time later near Colorado Springs, Colo., Povero said.

Herrera subsequently confessed to the crime. He surrendered to investigators from the DA’s Auto Insurance Fraud unit and was booked into West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga in lieu of $10,000 bail, Povero said.