| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 6830 | 2009-09-17 | Statewide | Two California Men Arrested for Insurance Fraud |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent HEADQUARTERS- NEWS RELEASE Two California Men Arrested For Insurance Fraud This week, detectives with Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud and Auto Theft Unit, with the assistance of the California Department of Insurance, arrested two men who conspired to steal insurance proceeds from individuals and businesses that were affected by Hurricane Katrina. In September, 2008, the Louisiana Department of Insurance forwarded a case to Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud and Auto Theft Unit alleging that Michael J. Mekeel, Matthew Todd and Steve Slepcevic of Paramount Disaster Recovery, Inc., committed fraudulent acts when they participated in a scheme that stole insurance proceeds from individuals and businesses after Hurricane Katrina. Shortly after Hurricane Katrina, representatives from Paramount Disaster Recovery, a Palo Verdes, CA based company, rented an apartment in Slidell, Louisiana. Paramount Disaster Recovery claimed to be a company that provided consulting for businesses and consumers that had substantial insurance claims because of severe weather and other disaster-related damage. Paramount led their clients to believe they had insurance claim management teams, engineers, architects and expert construction consultants and a full service construction company. As part of the “public adjusting” process, Paramount solicited parties who had substantial insurance claims to sign a “Public Adjustment Contract” that misrepresented the suspects, Mekeel, Todd and Slepcevic, as being licensed public insurance adjusters. The suspects offered to prepare a property damage assessment and costs of repair report and then coordinate inspections with the clients’ insurance company regarding property damage and the cost of repair. The contract stated “the client shall pay Paramount 20% of the total amount of the loss settlement negotiated with and agreed to by the client’s insurance company.” Additionally, Paramount negotiated with insurance companies, causing the insurance companies to issue checks to their clients, which include Paramount as a payee. The suspects allegedly forged the signatures on the back of the insurance checks and the checks were deposited into Paramount’s bank account. Paramount did not forward any of the insurance monies to the consumer or companies who initiated the claims. Two individuals and two companies are known to have fallen victim to Paramount’s fraudulent scheme totaling $335,461.41. After collecting their money, the suspects left the apartment in Slidell and returned to Los Angeles, California. Louisiana State Police detectives investigated the case and warrants were issued out of three parishes for the suspects in this case. The suspects are identified as: Steve Slepcevic (W/M, age 42 of Palo Verdes, CA), turned himself in on September 17, 2009, at the St. Tammany Parish Jail. Slepcevic was charged with four counts of Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Fraud ($334,461.41) and four counts of Money Laundering. Matthew Todd (W/M, age 50, of, Chatsworth, CA), was arrested on September 14, 2009, in Los Angeles, CA and is currently awaiting extradition back to Louisiana. Upon his return, Todd will be booked into Acadia Parish Jail on Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Fraud ($112,998.61). He will also be booked into Jefferson Parish Jail on two counts of Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Fraud ($201,459.20 & $10,987.50). Michael Mekeel (W/M, age 38 of Henderson, NV), faces charges of two counts of Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Fraud ($201,459.20 & $10,016.10) in Jefferson Parish. He will also be booked into the Acadia Parish Jail on Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Fraud ($112,998.61). He has not yet been located and is believed to be in Nevada area at this time. Warrants for his arrest have been issued. For more information contact: Sgt. Markus L. Smith Public Affairs Unit Louisiana State Police – Headquarters Office: (225) 925-6202 markus.smith@dps.la.gov www.LSP.org | |||
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