Two Sentenced for Auto Insurance Fraud

In a case that has spanned more than three years, two have finally been found guilty of auto insurance fraud, and are looking at some serious jail time. Magdalena Zanoletti and Ramon Alfonso Zanoletti have been found guilty of insurance fraud. Magdalena was found guilty on 38 counts of auto insurance fraud, while Ramon was found guilty of 19 felony counts of auto insurance fraud and the unauthorized practice of law – they are each facing 22 years in prison.

They are also responsible for paying $200,000 in fines and $108,533 in restitution. After nearly three weeks of trial, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office is resting easy tonight. Back in March of 2004, the LA Auto Insurance Task Force starting investigating a staged auto collision ring. After multiple search warrants were issued in December of that same year, they found evidence linking the above to an auto insurance fraud ring.

The ring also involved Dr. Clarence E. Franklin, Jr., DC and Franklin Chiropractic – his medical facility. In June of last year, Franklin, the Zanoletti’s and 20 other suspects were arrested for auto insurance fraud. Franklin’s case begins next month.

Ramon would pay cappers, or people involved in recruiting fake passengers to submit fraudulent claims to auto insurance companies, a percentage of the total receipts from the claim. Ramon would send the claimants to Franklin Chiropractic, where they would sign up for various injuries and treatments, without having the actual injuries or receiving the treatments. They targeted people who would most likely be covered by auto insurance like commercial vehicles, the elderly, expensive cars, etc. – and then stage auto accidents with them.

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