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Commonwealth vs David Mercedes Ruth Medrano, Amparo Emiliano Jessica Caceres
On 06/29/2007, David Mercedes 50 years old of Lynn, Ruth Medrano 38 years old of Salem, Amparo Emiliano 46 years old of Lynn and Jessica Caceres 21 years old of Salem were arraigned at the Lynn District Court.. The charges included Filing False Insurance Claims, Conspiracy, Larceny, and Attempted Larceny. The complaints alleged that David Mercedes reported to his insurance provider, Arbella Mutual that he had been involved in a motor vehicle crash with another motor vehicle driven by Ruth Medrano on 01/01/2005. David Mercedes claimed property damage to his vehicle for which Arbella paid him. Ruth Medrano also reported to her insurance provider, Arbella that she had been involved in the same motor vehicle crash. Medrano said that she and her two passengers, Amparo Emiliano and Jessica Caceres were injured in the crash. Medrano, Emiliano and Caceres all sought and received medical treatment and made claims to Arbella. An accident reconstruction was conducted. It concluded that the damage to the vehicles was not consistent with the claim. Arbella conducted an investigation that produced other contrary evidence. Arbella subsequently denied the medical claims of Medrano, Emiliano and Caceres and cancelled Mercedes’ policy. The property claim of Mercedes’ had been previously honored. Arbella referred these claims alleging that this set of facts amounted criminal fraud to wit: a “staged accident”. The insurance companies then referred the claims to the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts. The Insurance Fraud Task Force of Lynn consisting of investigators from the IFB and the Lynn Police Department conducted a further investigation that resulted in criminal complaints. On 01/27/2009, David Mercedes admitted that there were sufficient facts to find him guilty on all charges. His case was continued without a finding until 01/27/2010 and he was placed on probation. He was ordered to make $3, 112.50 restitution to Arbella Mutual Insurance Company. On 03/19/2009, Ruth Medrano, Amparo Emiliano and Jessica Caceres were given a general continuance until 09/21/2009 of all charges against them. They were each ordered to pay $500 court costs and to pay the insurance companies’ investigative costs.
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