California Man Pleads Guilty to Auto Insurance Fraud

Noel Perez of Azusa, Calif., has pled guilty to insurance fraud after setting his vehicle on fire at the entrance to Angeles National Forest on Oct. 27 and submitting a fraudulent insurance claim. He was sentenced Dec. 22 to 180 days in jail and three years of probation, according to the California Department of Insurance.

By the time officers from the Azusa Police Department arrived at the location, no one was near the vehicle and it was destroyed to the point the vehicle’s identification was unknown, CDI said. The Azusa Police Department contacted CDI Los Angeles Auto Insurance Fraud Task Force detectives for assistance in identifying the vehicle.

The investigation identified the vehicle as being reported stolen by Perez, the vehicle’s registered owner. Further investigation indicated that the vehicle had been deliberately burned and evidence lead CDI investigators and the Azusa Police Department to Perez as the prime suspect.

On Nov. 12, 2009, Perez admitted during an interview with CDI detectives to burning his vehicle because he couldn’t afford the payments. Additionally, the investigation discovered Perez was involved in an unlawful sexual relationship with a minor. CDI detectives arrested Perez on two counts of insurance fraud, one count of arson and one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.

Source: CDI