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LOS ANGELES -- Nearly two dozen men and women, including lawyers and chiropractors, were arrested Tuesday, accused in a large scale auto insurance fraud ring that netted more than $450,000.
Four lawyers and four chiropractors are among those arrested, according to Deputy District Attorney Gregory Alker of the Automobile Insurance Fraud Division.
The attorneys and chiropractors are accused of defrauding 15 insurance companies by allegedly filing false claims for staged accidents. The case, which involves 28 defendants, was filed on Oct. 22. Prosecutors allege that the defendants are part of a larger conspiracy involving more than 300 suspects.
"These sorts of crimes, particularly when orchestrated by attorneys and medical practitioners, undermine the very fabric of our insurance systems," District Attorney Steve Cooley said in a prepared statement.
District Attorney investigators arrested chiropractors Mark A. Stolyar, 35, Babak Naghi, 40, Dmitriy Sklyut, 33, and Christopher Manuel Cleveland, 54. The defendants, who collectively face 60 counts of grand theft of personal property and insurance fraud, are expected to be arraigned Wednesday in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
Beverly Hills Attorney Leon Rubin Laufer, 57, is charged with 50 counts; Glendale Attorney John Akopian, 37, is charged with 38 counts; Corona Attorney Edward Leonid Katsnelson, 50, is charged with 32 counts; and Los Angeles Attorney Stephen Marshall Weiss, 62, also faces 32 counts.
The attorneys collectively face more than 150 counts of insurance fraud, grand theft of personal property and false and fraudulent claim. Akopian additionally faces charges of money laundering, receiving stolen property and possession of an assault weapon.
Akopian, who was arrested on Sunday, was arraigned and pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning. Weiss was arrested on Friday and was arraigned and pleaded not guilty Monday. Both men are due back on Jan. 6 for a hearing. Laufer and Katsnelson remain outstanding, authorities said.
The defendants are believed to be associates of Alexander Igor Gutman, 48, of Sherman Oaks, and Laszlo Aldar Bango, 37, of Van Nuys, who was charged last year. Gutman is believed to have netted millions of dollars by staging some 2,600 "paper accidents." Bango was purportedly a co-conspirator.
Gutman and Bango pleaded on February 26. Gutman pleaded guilty to 15 counts of insurance fraud and Bango pleaded guilty to four counts of insurance fraud. Both men admitted aggravated white-collar crime enhancements. The two are expected to be sentenced at a future date.
Four lawyers and four chiropractors are among those arrested, according to Deputy District Attorney Gregory Alker of the Automobile Insurance Fraud Division.
The attorneys and chiropractors are accused of defrauding 15 insurance companies by allegedly filing false claims for staged accidents. The case, which involves 28 defendants, was filed on Oct. 22. Prosecutors allege that the defendants are part of a larger conspiracy involving more than 300 suspects.
"These sorts of crimes, particularly when orchestrated by attorneys and medical practitioners, undermine the very fabric of our insurance systems," District Attorney Steve Cooley said in a prepared statement.
District Attorney investigators arrested chiropractors Mark A. Stolyar, 35, Babak Naghi, 40, Dmitriy Sklyut, 33, and Christopher Manuel Cleveland, 54. The defendants, who collectively face 60 counts of grand theft of personal property and insurance fraud, are expected to be arraigned Wednesday in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
Beverly Hills Attorney Leon Rubin Laufer, 57, is charged with 50 counts; Glendale Attorney John Akopian, 37, is charged with 38 counts; Corona Attorney Edward Leonid Katsnelson, 50, is charged with 32 counts; and Los Angeles Attorney Stephen Marshall Weiss, 62, also faces 32 counts.
The attorneys collectively face more than 150 counts of insurance fraud, grand theft of personal property and false and fraudulent claim. Akopian additionally faces charges of money laundering, receiving stolen property and possession of an assault weapon.
Akopian, who was arrested on Sunday, was arraigned and pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning. Weiss was arrested on Friday and was arraigned and pleaded not guilty Monday. Both men are due back on Jan. 6 for a hearing. Laufer and Katsnelson remain outstanding, authorities said.
The defendants are believed to be associates of Alexander Igor Gutman, 48, of Sherman Oaks, and Laszlo Aldar Bango, 37, of Van Nuys, who was charged last year. Gutman is believed to have netted millions of dollars by staging some 2,600 "paper accidents." Bango was purportedly a co-conspirator.
Gutman and Bango pleaded on February 26. Gutman pleaded guilty to 15 counts of insurance fraud and Bango pleaded guilty to four counts of insurance fraud. Both men admitted aggravated white-collar crime enhancements. The two are expected to be sentenced at a future date.
