A Davis woman was convicted of auto insurance fraud last week in Yolo Superior Court, Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig announced.
Shelene Hopp, 27, was convicted of filing a false or fraudulent auto insurance claim. According to prosecutors, Hopp had been driving her Honda Fit on Nov. 15, 2015, when she crashed into a Ford Expedition that had been parked in front of a Davis home.
Following the crash, Hopp parked her Honda in the area, left the scene and returned home. Hopp failed to contact the owner of the Ford Expedition or report the collision to the Davis Police Department.
A few hours after the crash, an officer from the Davis Police Department contacted Hopp about her car. Hopp said her Honda had been stolen and she knew nothing about the collision. Hopp then reported to her insurance carrier, USAA, that her Honda Fit had been stolen and was involved in a hit-and-run collision.
On Dec. 8, 2015, Hopp reported on a recorded phone call with USAA that she had been the driver of the Honda Fit when she crashed into the Ford Expedition the month prior. Hopp later admitted lying to the Davis Police Department as well as to USAA insurance about the facts surrounding this incident.
She pleaded no contest to the insurance fraud charge and was sentenced by Judge Daniel Maguire to three years’ probation, 30 days in county jail and a restitution fine of $800.
According to Reisig, insurance fraud is the second-most costly white-collar crime in America behind tax evasion. Insurance industry studies show that about 10 percent or more of property or casualty claims are fraudulent, costing Americans billions of dollars each year.
“Filing false insurance claims and insurance fraud have an effect on the rising cost of auto insurance for everyone,” Reisig said. “We are committed to investigating and prosecuting this type of fraud in our community.”
If you suspect someone is committing auto insurance fraud, call the DA’s Fraud Hot Line at 855-496-5632. Reports of suspected fraud also can be made online at www.yoloda.org/fraud.htm, or emailed to Fraud@yoloda.org.