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A Sacramento man had an inborn talent for making up stories to support the various claims he filed. In 1991 he sued a local movie theater, alleging that he sat down in a seat and was stuck by a hypodermic needle that was lying there. Certainly not your ordinary claim story!
The left knee, that was X-rayed over and over again to support the many claims, belonged to the alleged ringleader of the loose-knit fraud ring. On June 14, Darrel Black, 28, of North Highlands, was charged with numerous counts of insurance fraud, ranging from staged auto accidents to slipand-falls.
Also charged were Richard Francis, Edward Duarte, Roger Stewart, Clayton Lemert, Richard Belanger, Michael Fine, Greg Haas, Richard Gamez and Varian Overton.
His specialty was automobile accidents involving bicyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians. Most of the accidents occurred in the parking lots of shopping centers and markets. And most of the time the poor victim claimed a left knee injury … and it always looked the same.
Deputy District Attorney Mark Zahner said, “This five-month joint effort by investigators from our office and the Department of Insurance is not over. More arrests in these cases and other related insurance claims are anticipated.”
Investigators having information on any of the aforementioned claimants can contact Zahner at 916-440-6218.
© 1995 John Cooke Fraud Report