Arizona Auto Body Shop Owner Charged in Staged Accidents and Identity Theft Cases

On September 16, 2013, the Arizona State Grand Jury charged Hugo Alejandro Mejia Regalado with several felonies involving fraud schemes, insurance fraud, forgeries, theft and aggravated identity theft.

The case involved separate investigations conducted by State Farm Insurance and the Arizona Department of Insurance Investigations Division. Agents with the Arizona Department of Insurance, assisted by the Phoenix Police Department and agents with the National Insurance Crime Bureau executed search warrants on X Auto Body Shop at 1540 West Broadway Road, in Phoenix and Hugo Alejandro Mejia Regalado’s residence in northwest Phoenix.

The investigation involved auto insurance policies that were taken out on different vehicles in fraudulent names with the use of fake Mexico driver’s licenses. Within a couple weeks of the policies being taken out the vehicles were involved in hit and run accidents believed to be staged.

Numerous other claims are still under investigation.

Source: Arizona Depart of Insurance