A automotive crash on a Southern California freeway final yr was a staged wreck to rip-off a ride-hail driver’s insurance coverage firm, authorities mentioned Monday.
On Nov. 23, 2024, a gaggle of suspects ordered a ride-hail automotive that took them onto the 215 Freeway in San Bernardino, the place John Murillo, 37, was driving one other automobile and deliberately collided with the ride-hail automotive, in accordance with a California Division of Insurance coverage information launch.
The passengers contained in the ride-hail automobile, Ledontae Pope, 30, and Kalil Davis, 27, have been allegedly in on the rip-off and claimed they have been injured. The 2 have been taken to a hospital by paramedics. The intention of the rip-off was to file a declare towards the ride-hail driver and acquire the insurance coverage payout, state officers mentioned.
The incident was reported to the California Freeway Patrol as a hit-and-run, in accordance with the discharge. However in the course of the CHP’s investigation into the crash, the ride-hail driver shared their suspicion that the crash might have been staged. The CHP then referred the incident to the Inland Empire Vehicle Insurance coverage Activity Pressure.
On Jan. 27, the San Bernardino County district lawyer’s workplace charged Pope, Davis, and Deshawn Perater-Nickson, 26, with assault with a lethal weapon and insurance coverage fraud. Perater-Nickson was recognized because the proprietor of the automobile that Murillo was driving in the course of the crash.
As a part of the investigation into Pope, Davis and Perater-Nickson, authorities executed search warrants that led them to Murillo as the motive force and a fifth co-conspirator, Klydale Moses, 24, of Fontana. Authorities mentioned Moses wasn’t concerned within the crash however performed a task of their scheme.
Of the 5 defendants, all however Perater-Nickson have pleaded no contest in courtroom within the final two months.
Pope, Davis and Moses have been sentenced to jail time and probation. Murillo is awaiting sentencing however has agreed to spend two years in jail, state Division of Insurance coverage officers mentioned. Perater-Nickson faces a number of felonies, together with false imprisonment, pimping and pandering. His case is pending in courtroom.
