San Bernardino County man arraigned on 39 felony counts in alleged “paper collision” fraud ring
A San Bernardino County man has been arraigned on 39 felony counts relating to alleged insurance fraud.
30-year-old Branden Heywood of Chino is reportedly accused of acting as ring leader of an operation in which he and others allegedly falsified injury documents and fraudulently collected over $80,000 in insurance payments.
The investigation, led by the California DOI’s Inland Empire Auto Insurance Fraud task force, reportedly found that Heywood had been using his own identity and others — including those of his minor children — to submit fictitious medical records and falsified CHP documents regarding collisions that never happened, known as a “paper collision.”
The task force, comprised of the DOI, California CHP, San Bernardino District Attorney’s Office, and Riverside District Attorney’s Office, also found that Heywood had allegedly recruited five other people into the operation via social media. As a result, those five have also been arrested and charged with felony insurance fraud.
A search of Heywood’s home also turned up two assault weapons, the DOI said.
Heywood was arrested on August 9th and remains in custody on $150,000 bail.
