A California body shop owner is facing felony insurance fraud charges after an undercover sting operation revealed he inflated a damage estimate on a bait car.
Sting Operation Uncovers Fraudulent Claims
Investigators from the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, working with the Organized Auto Insurance Fraud Task Force, discovered that Jairon Escobar, 49, owner of Radiator & Body Parts, exaggerated damages on a vehicle with only a single dent. According to authorities, he added thousands of dollars in fake damages to the estimate.
The task force—comprised of officials from the Santa Clara County D.A.’s Office, California Highway Patrol, and the California Department of Insurance—conducted the operation in May 2024. They targeted body shops suspected of insurance fraud and encouraging customers to engage in fraudulent claims.
How the Bait Car Scheme Worked
California Body Shop Owner: For the sting, the task force used a Toyota Camry supplied by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The vehicle only had a small dent above the front wheel fender. However, Escobar reportedly advised an undercover officer to claim more than $3,000 in additional damages when filing with the insurer. Authorities say he then submitted an inflated repair estimate to Mercury Insurance.
Legal Consequences
Escobar was arraigned on felony attempted insurance fraud charges on Tuesday. If convicted, he could face incarceration.
For more updates on fraud cases and legal developments, visit JacobiJournal.com.
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