The California Department of Insurance (CDI) announced on February 18, 2025, that an alleged insurance fraud ring had been targeting car accident victims. The scheme involved towing vehicles and holding them at repair shops in exchange for large cash payments.
An investigation into auto insurance fraud across Southern California has led to the arrests of 16 individuals linked to the alleged scheme, which primarily targeted victims in the Inland Empire. The CDI is cautioning drivers about tow truck companies that hold vehicles hostage for financial gain.
The investigation began in November 2022 after a CHP officer, assisting a victim of a potentially fraudulent towing incident, contacted the Inland Empire Automobile Insurance Task Force, the CDI reported.
Investigators discovered that a non-sworn employee of the California Highway Patrol, Rosa Isela Santistevan, 56, of Irvine, allegedly sold traffic collision reports. These reports were reportedly sold to Andre Angelo Reyes, 37, of Corona, who is believed to be the ringleader.
Reyes then allegedly provided these reports, which contained personal information about accident victims, to Esmeralda Parga, 27, of Pomona, officials said. The task force seized over 3,500 pages from CHP traffic collision reports from Parga’s residence.
Parga would impersonate insurance companies and contact those involved in the collisions, authorities alleged. She coordinated the towing of vehicles to a repair center she claimed was approved by the insurance company.
Tow truck drivers from JR Tow in Los Angeles and B&M Tow in La Verne, who allegedly participated in the scheme, would pick up vehicles in Riverside County and tow them to Certified Auto in Buena Park. Certified Auto is owned by Anthony Gomez, 36, of Jurupa Valley.
Once at the repair shop, Certified Auto demanded cash payments from insurance companies for the vehicles’ release. The American Automobile Association reported that several companies insured vehicles transported to body shops by the group, which kept the vehicles until substantial cash payments were made.
Search warrants reportedly revealed evidence suggesting the ring committed other forms of insurance fraud, including staged collisions. In 2024, the ring was accused of similar schemes in San Bernardino County involving two California Collision locations in Ontario and Montclair.
The task force determined that the ring illegally collected over $216,932. The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office also charged Reyes and Diana Villa Pineda, 34, of Corona with tax evasion totaling $136,408.
To avoid becoming a victim of similar scams, the California Department of Insurance advises drivers to be aware of warning signs, including:
- A tow truck arriving within minutes of an accident, even before a company has been called.
- The tow truck driver directing you to a specific body shop, rather than asking for your preference.
- The tow truck driver stating that someone will contact you or requesting that paperwork be signed immediately.
- The tow truck driver arranging a rideshare for you.
Drivers who suspect they may be involved in such a situation should verify the tow truck’s legitimacy with their insurance company or wait for CHP verification that the tow truck was dispatched by CHP.
