Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Las Vegas man pleads guilty in staged-crash scheme

A 23-year-old Las Vegas man has pleaded guilty to insurance fraud after participating in staged car crashes that cost auto insurance companies and others more than $10,000, Attorney General Adam Paul Laxalt announced today.

Esgar Chavarin was a passenger in a car driven by co-defendant Martin Curiel-Guerra, who intentionally caused three crashes between May and June of 2012, according to a news release from the Attorney General’s Office.

As a result of the scheme, the city of Henderson, Nevada Highway Patrol, Nationwide Insurance Co. and Sentry Insurance Co. suffered losses of more than $10,000, officials said.

“Car crashes can be dangerous, traumatic and expensive, and those who stage fraudulent collisions intend to make money by submitting bogus claims,” Laxalt said in a statement. “Prosecutors in my office will continue to ensure that those who put the public at risk receive justice.”

Insurance fraud is punishable by up to four years in prison and a fine of no more than $5,000.

Chavarin and his co-defendant are set to have their sentencing hearings on Dec. 1 in the Eighth Judicial District Court.

Curiel-Guerra, 26, pleaded guilty Aug. 3 to one count of insurance fraud and one count of multiple transactions involving fraud and deceit, which is punishable by 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine, officials said.