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Sacramento – At least 36 people have been arrested and more are sought after a two-year investigation into what Department of Insurance fraud investigators are calling the biggest international auto insurance fraud plot in the Department’s history.
DOI investigators worked in conjunction with the FBI, the National Insurance Crime Bureau, California Highway Patrol, US Customs Office and other agencies. The investigation involved suspects in California and two other states.
Luxury cars that were purchased, rented or leased were reported stolen in the US and shipped to Hong Kong via the Port of Los Angeles for resale in the People’s Republic of China. The cars were resold in China for up to three times their US value, while insurance claims were filed with US insurers. About 120 cars were transported overseas as part of this scheme. Total potential losses exceed $6 million.
Fraudulent sales contracts and customs documents were used to ship the cars. DOI investigators obtained the true shipping documents on the cars and the phony documents used to facilitate the shipments to Hong Kong.
During the summer of 1995, investigators discovered 14 luxury cars stored in containers at the Port of Los Angeles, ready to be shipped to Hong Kong. The cars, which included luxury models such as Mercedes Benz, BMW and Lexus, were tracked by DOI investigators while en route to Hong Kong. While in transit, the cars were reported stolen in the US. As a result of the investigations the cars were returned to the US.
Of those arrested, six have pled guilty and one has been sentenced. The largest group arrested are from Sacramento and include Paul Chong, Ding Hua Huang, Min Xiang Huang, Cuong Lam, Lewis Yiu Kwong Tam, Carol Tsui Fun Tam, Jian Hua Tan, Zhi Li Man Tan, Phu Say Tang, Phillip Tham, Gilda Saberon, Glenna Sanchez Tham, Damian Torres, Maria Cruz Torres, Simons Wong, Debbie Yoong and Po Shen Yu. Other Northern California arrests included Sherman Lee, Wah Wing Lee, Teresa Trang and Timothy Wu. Those arrested in Southern California, all from the San Gabriel Valleyarea, include Cheong Hian Chew (AKA Simon Chew Fugitive), Nen Chou Fan, Yuan Ho, Howard Hu, Chih Fung Lee, Leslie Lee, Ching Yuen Li, Hsiang Yu Lin, Szu Po Shen, Mary Tsui, Cheuk Ping Woo, Wai Nang Yeung, Tau Ming Yin and Vickie Nga Yue
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