Bristol West Insurance Group and Coast National Insurance Company Work With LAPD to Bust a 46 Member Auto Fraud Ring

LOS ANGELES--Special Investigators from Coast National Insurance Company (CNIC) worked closely with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office and the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) to bring down a 46 member auto fraud ring bilking the insurance companies and their customers out of millions of dollars.

A joint press conference with the LAPD, District Attorney’s Office, NICB, Bristol West and Coast National Insurance Company was held late Thursday, March 6, to announce the results of the auto fraud bust conducted by the LAPD and D.A. investigators during the day resulting in 24 arrests.

“We would like to thank the LAPD and Chief William Bratton for the fantastic cooperation in helping to bust this auto fraud ring,” Jim Sclafani, Bristol West Senior Vice President of Claims, told the group. “The investigation of the Rodeo Ring was initiated by Bristol West’s Coast National Insurance Company (CNIC) after several referrals to our Special Investigation Unit (SIU) from our claims department were found to have similar fact patterns,” he added.

“The culmination of this extensive joint investigation has led to the identification of 46 suspects,” Mr. Sclafani continued. “The investigation identified insurance fraud, identity theft, money laundering and tax evasion. This could not have been done without the cooperation of the LAPD, NICB, Coast National Insurance Company and other victim insurance companies.”

“When Special Investigator Anne Luce found evidence in our claims files of a pattern of suspicious facts, she began a deep investigation and data analysis that led to a two-year undercover investigation of this auto fraud ring operating in California. She compiled the information involving specific attorneys, body shops, players and chiropractors. and submitted it to the NICB, and together the evidence went to LAPD Chief Bratton and L.A. District Attorney Steve Cooley. It was a two year investigation culminating resulting in today’s announcement.”

“Insurance fraud is a serious crime that costs families with personal lines insurance polices in the United States, upwards of $300 a year. Zurich, Farmers, Bristol West and Coast National Insurance Company, will continue to take proactive measures nationwide to stop such scams. This is part of our commitment to our policyholders to offer the best product at the lowest premiums possible,” Mr. Sclafani stated.

Bristol West is a subsidiary of Farmers Insurance and operates Coast National Insurance Company. Farmers Insurance is owned by Zurich Financial Services.

Bristol West, a subsidiary of Farmers Group, Inc., began providing private passenger automobile insurance to Florida residents in 1973. Since that time, Bristol West has grown to be a leading provider of liability and physical damage insurance focusing exclusively on private passenger automobiles across the United States.