San Rafael, CA – A San Rafael man recently was sentenced in Marin County Superior Court to 29 days in jail for submitting a fraudulent insurance claim and for falsely reporting a stolen vehicle. In fact, he was selling his car's parts on the internet.
Kenry Rodas-Reyes, 41, pled guilty to fraudulently presenting an insurance claim August 8 and was sentenced October 4 by the Judge Beth S. Jordan. In addition to jail time, Rodas-Reyes was placed on probation for two years and will pay restitution, fines, and penalties.
Fraud investigators at the Marin County District Attorney's Office initiated inquiries into Rodas-Reyes after learning that an unsuspecting buyer had purchased auto parts via an online marketplace. The car parts were identified by the California Highway Patrol as belonging to a car that was reported to the authorities and an insurance company as a stolen vehicle. Investigators then identified Rodas-Reyes as both the registered owner of the allegedly stolen vehicle and the individual selling the auto parts online.
In addition to falsely reporting the vehicle as stolen to the San Rafael Police Department, Rodas-Reyes also submitted an insurance claim on the vehicle and had received a $4,807.21 in payment under his insurance policy.
Deputy District Attorneys Sean Kensinger and Wesley Pratt prosecuted the case.
"Insurance fraud hurts all Marin residents by increasing insurance premiums for those who take the responsible step of insuring their vehicles as required by law,” Pratt said. “The Marin County District Attorney's Office will aggressively pursue criminal charges against those who engage in auto insurance fraud and will hold them criminally accountable."
Insurance fraud is a crime punishable by up to five years in prison and $50,000 in fines. Please report suspected insurance fraud directly to the Marin County District Attorney's Office via email or call the California Department of Insurance Fraud hotline at 1-800-927-4357.