VENTURA- On February 28, 2022, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced that Darren Lee Hardy, 49, of Thousand Oaks, pled guilty to felony automobile insurance fraud.

Hardy was in an automobile accident on approximately July 21, 2020. On September 13, 2020, Hardy purchased an automobile insurance policy from Geico, but failed to disclose the accident that occurred in July. Hardy then reported to Geico that he was in an accident on October 26, 2020. Subsequent investigation by the Fraud Division of the California Department of Insurance revealed that the accident for which Hardy claimed damages actually occurred in July, prior to the date he purchased automobile insurance from Geico.

Hardy is scheduled to be sentenced on April 4, 2022, in Ventura County Superior Court. Felony automobile insurance fraud is punishable by up to five years in county jail and a fine up to $50,000, or double the amount of fraud, whichever is greater.

“With today’s technology and insurance fraud investigations by the California Department of Insurance, it’s just a matter of time before those committing insurance fraud are caught,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “Insurance fraud is not a harmless crime; it impacts all consumers who end up paying higher premiums because of it.”