“Staged accidents put innocent victims at risk for injury and death and all because of the greed of unscrupulous individuals who think they can scam insurance companies.  Thanks to an investigation by the California Department of Insurance, the suspects in this case who are accused of staging 15 accidents, will be held accountable.” – CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

LOS ANGELES – On August 30, 2021, a case was filed against three people accused of staging automobile accidents on Los Angeles area freeways in order to collect money from insurance companies, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Eduardo Retana, 25, Ausencio Gomez, 46, and Victor Valle-Diaz, 55, all of the city of Los Angeles were charged in felony case PA097083.

• Retana was charged with 11 counts of assault with a deadly weapon and 10 counts of insurance fraud;
• Gomez with 10 counts of assault with a deadly weapon and nine counts of insurance fraud;
• and Valle-Diaz with eight counts of assault with a deadly weapon and four counts of insurance fraud.

Between January 15, 2020 and September 18, 2020, the defendants allegedly staged 15 accidents on Los Angeles County freeways with 21 victims, some of whom suffered severe injuries as a result. As part of a purported insurance fraud ring, they allegedly defrauded insurance companies of nearly $330,000.

The case is being investigated by the California Department of Insurance.