Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 12:24 p.m.
LOS ANGELES
Los Angeles County prosecutors have arrested a lawyer and four chiropractors and paralegals who allegedly bilked insurance companies by submitting bills for phony auto accidents.
The district attorney’s office says the suspects arrested Thursday are among seven people charged with dozens of counts of insurance fraud.
Some could face more than a dozen years in prison if convicted.
Prosecutors say 19 insurers were defrauded between 2005 and 2008. Deputy District Attorney Greg Alkers claims the ring hired people to damage cars in order to submit phony claims.
Authorities contend the seven are part of a larger ring that made millions. Since 2007, 63 people have been charged and 27 have pleaded guilty to insurance fraud.
The five suspects are accused of bilking $549,000 through phony claims.
