32-year old Gustavo Silva reported to the Firebaugh Police Department and his insurance company his 2018 Honda Accord was stolen by an unknown suspect as the vehicle was warming up. As a result, his insurance company paid $23,000 to the financer of the Honda Accord.
However, an unrelated commercial burglary investigation at Silva’s employer led to the Department of Insurance opening their own investigation in to his claim when a matching Honda was found and subsequently moved from a locked warehouse at Silva’s job site.
Again, an unrelated search warrant served by the Firebaugh Police Department, led officers to the Honda. This time it was found inside a semi-truck trailer in Firebaugh along with other stolen vehicles.
The building evidence supporting Silva hid his vehicle to claim it was stolen resulted in Silva’s arrest on January 23, 2021.The case in which he faces being charged with multiple felony counts of insurance fraud will be prosecuted by the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office.
