Insurance Fraud Sting Nets Chop Cut Rebuild Star

[NewsBot]

Anybody who's had a banged-up car fixed by insurance has probably been at least tempted to ask the body shop guys to "touch up" a few other dings and scratches at the same time on the insurance company's dime. Unfortunately, that's technically fraud, and in Orange County, California, "Operation Straight Body," a five month undercover sting, resulted in the arrest of 53 auto mechanics, including Rich Evans of Huntington Beach Body Works, former star of the TV series "Chop, Cut, Rebuild" and guest on "Monster Garage."


Rich Evans - huntingtonbchbodyworks.com

OC District Attorney investigators would pose as customers with damaged cars and ask that the body shops repair new damage as well as damage sustained before the car was "purchased" under a single insurance claim. Most refused, since the damage should require separate claims, but out of 152 undercover operations, 53 estimators, including 10 shop owners, were arrested over a two day period and charged with a single count of felony insurance fraud.

Per Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackaucas, "This prosecution put dishonest operators and anybody thinking about committing fraud on notice. I think consumers have the right to know which of the auto repair shops are conducting straight business and which are not." It's not clear how consumers would have been directly harmed by this form of fraud, however.

This isn't the first instance of a high-profile TV car builder falling afoul of the law - in 2005, Boyd Coddington (star of "American Hot Rod") pleaded guilty to misdemeanor fraud in connection with allegations that his business titled newly-built cars as vintage rebuilds to avoid emissions laws and tax obligations, and he received a $3,000 fine and 160 hours of community service for his trouble.

For a full list of those charged, click here.




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