Release Date: August 3, 2009

Contact:         John Vanarelli, Senior Deputy District Attorney

                     (805) 662-1726

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Ismael Santos (DOB 11/20/84) of Thousand Oaks , pleaded guilty to one count of felony auto insurance fraud. Santos will be sentenced on September 2, 2009, in Ventura County Superior Court. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in state prison and a $50,000 fine.

On March 12, 2009, Santos contacted the Thousand Oaks Police Department and reported his 2000 Ford Expedition stolen from a shopping center parking lot. Santos stated he had parked his vehicle in the lot and discovered it gone when he returned from shopping.

On March 13, 2009, Santos contacted his insurance carrier, Access General, and filed a claim for the loss. Later that same day, Access General was notified by the National Insurance Crime Bureau that a 2000 Ford Expedition registered to Ismael Santos was impounded in Tijuana , Mexico , on March 9, 2009. Access General referred the claim to the California Department of Insurance (CDI) for investigation. When CDI investigators questioned Santos , he repeated his story about his vehicle being stolen. However, when investigators confronted him with the information about the vehicle being impounded, Santos admitted that he paid two men $500 to “get rid” of his vehicle because he could no longer afford the monthly payments.

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 of those who choose to victimize the public in this manner.