A Santa Ana woman was arrested with two alleged co-conspirators from Hawaiian Gardens in a purported attempt to collect insurance for a car that was sent to Mexico to be “chopped,” or broken into parts to be sold separately.
Ana Laura Salgado-Antunez — aka Ana Laura Salgado or Ana Laura Antunez — of Santa Ana was arrested March 26 on five felony insurance fraud charges, state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner said Friday. Salgado-Antunez was released from San Bernardino County Jail on her own recognizance. She could not be reached for comment.
Also arrested were Hawaiian Gardens residents Ninfa Patricia Ramos-Ortiz, 44, on five felony insurance fraud charges, and her son, Julio Edder Ramos-Alarcon, 25, on six felony insurance charges. Ramos-Ortiz was still held in San Bernardino County Jail on an immigration count. Her son’s status was not available.
Each felony fraud charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and up to $50,000 in fines.
“All motorists pay higher insurance rates because of fraud, which is not a victimless crime,” Poizner said. “This case shows how far, literally, some people will go to commit these crimes.”
The insurer, Mercury Insurance Co., did not pay a claim on the vehicle, but stood to lose up to $27,000.
Salgado-Antunez, 26, filed a police report and an insurance claim that her 2006 Nissan Armada was stolen on July 20, 2007, outside the home of her friends in Hawaiian Gardens, the Insurance Commissioner said.
During the claims handling process, investigators learned that Salgado-Artunez was behind on her payments and that the vehicle was running poorly.
Investigators concluded she paid acquaintances to drive the car to Mexico, where it was delivered to be chopped up. Arrest warrants for insurance fraud are outstanding for two other alleged conspirators in the scam: Diana Maldonado Cruz, 38, and Juan Diego Cartagena-Alarcon, 31, both residents of Tijuana and pictured below.
Jason Kimbrough, a spokesman for the Department of Insurance, said he could not disclose how investigators discovered when the vehicle was taken across the border because it could reveal their methods.
Click HERE to see the insurance commissioner’s announcement.
