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Fugitive Arrested in $500,000 Auto Fraud Scam
A Sherman Oaks, Calif., man has been arrested for insurance fraud, grand
theft, identity theft, and federal charges, the California Department of
Insurance reported. Moshe "Sanny" Assoulin, 35, was arrested in Israel on
Aug. 19, 2007 by Israeli National Police. Assoulin is an Israeli national
who grew up in California's San Fernando Valley.

A warrant for Assoulin's arrest was issued in October 2005, following the
results of an investigation by the CDI. The investigation revealed multiple
fraudulent automobile insurance claims were allegedly submitted to car
rental and insurance companies by Assoulin and co-conspirators. Nine
defendants have pleaded guilty to various insurance fraud related charges in
connection with this case. In May 2005, Assoulin was awaiting sentencing for
federal charges when he became aware of CDI's insurance fraud investigation.
At that point, Assoulin fled to Israel.

The CDI Fraud Division's 2005 investigation revealed that from 2000 to early
2002 Assoulin participated in a scam in which fraudulent insurance claims
were submitted to car rental and insurance companies. Under the alleged
scheme, a person would rent a vehicle from a car rental company and return
it a day or two later with slight damage. The renter would report that he or
she had accidentally struck a parked unoccupied vehicle. Another person
would then contact the car rental company as the owner of the parked
unoccupied vehicle, and submit a claim for property damages. The same
vehicles with the same damages were used repeatedly in multiple claims.

One of the vehicles, a 1997 Mercedes Benz SL600, was used in 10 claims, and
various insurance companies paid more than $100,000 in settlements for
alleged damages to the vehicle. The potential loss to the various car rental
and insurance companies is estimated at nearly $500,000. The National
Insurance Crime Bureau, as well as multiple car rental and insurance
companies, assisted in the investigation.

The CDI Fraud Division and the Drug Enforcement Administration jointly
submitted to Israel a request for the arrest and extradition of Assoulin
through the US Department of Justice Office of International Affairs. The
request was reviewed by the Israeli Ministry of Justice, and an Israeli
arrest warrant was issued. On August 19, 2007, Israeli National Police
located and arrested Assoulin. The Los Angeles County District Attorney is
prosecuting this case.

Source: CDI