Friends Arrested on Auto Fraud Charges

Emmanuel Benavides Torres, 25, and Oscar Gomez Martinez, 26, were arrested on insurance fraud and arson charges.

According to the CDI Criminal Investigations Branch’s Fraud Division, a Suspected Fraudulent Claim Referral was received from Geico Insurance Company, initiating an investigation. On Dec. 19, 2001, Torres reported his 2001 Chevy Silverado pickup stolen and burned while he and friend Martinez attended a movie at Gateway Cinema in Madera.

During the processing of the claim, Torres submitted numerous receipts for vehicle equipment, vehicle customizations, and personal property on or in the truck at the time of the alleged theft. After learning that several of the receipts had been allegedly altered, Geico referred the case to CDI.

CDI investigators confirmed the alleged altered receipts and several more, including a receipt from a prior burglary claim submitted by Torres on October 29, 2001. Investigators also learned the personal property Torres claimed as lost was not in the vehicle at the time of the alleged theft, and that Torres had allegedly removed much of the custom equipment on the truck prior to the theft.

Torres allegedly removed the custom equipment, burned his own truck, and with the assistance of Martinez, reported it stolen to collect the insurance money. During the claim process, Martinez allegedly made false and misleading statements to investigators in furtherance of Torres’ claim. Torres eventually withdrew his claim in its entirety after Geico demanded he submit to an Examination under Oath.

Topics Auto Fraud