Release Date: March 24, 2008

Contact:

Kevin Drescher, Senior Deputy District Attorney

(805) 662-1726  

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Yair Romo Hernandez (DOB 12/3/81) of Thousand Oaks pleaded guilty to one count of felony auto insurance fraud. Hernandez will be sentenced on April 21, 2008, at 1:30 p.m., in courtroom 12, by Superior Court Judge Bruce Clark.

According to California Highway Patrol detectives, at 9:00 a.m. on September 22, 2007, Hernandez falsely reported to the Ventura Police Department that his 2007 Nissan pickup truck was stolen from the downtown Ventura area the previous night. Three days later, on September 25, Hernandez filed a claim for his “stolen vehicle” with Topa Insurance.

CHP detectives determined however, that between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. on September 22, Hernandez was involved in a solo accident on the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles . Hernandez and his vehicle were towed early that morning off the 101 to MZ Body Shop in Los Angeles . Hernandez never returned to the body shop to pick up his vehicle or have it repaired. Eventually, in December, the body shop notified the CHP about the unclaimed, abandoned vehicle on its property. This prompted the CHP to investigate. Shortly thereafter, the insurance fraud was discovered.

Because Hernandez has a prior felony conviction and has previously served a term in prison, he faces a maximum penalty of 11 years in state prison and up to $50,000 in fines. He remains in custody with bail set at $30,000.

Auto insurance fraud is not a victimless crime. It affects every law abiding insured driver in California . Automobile insurance fraud costs the United States insurance industry $2 billion annually and each consumer about $200 to $300 annually for each vehicle insured in California . The District Attorney's Office is committed to vigorously prosecuting all who choose to victimize the public in this manner.