Members of auto insurance fraud ring set to be arraigned

March 12, 2010 | By KPCC Wire Services | KPCC

An attorney and two chiropractors were scheduled to be arraigned today on charges of taking part in a large-scale auto insurance fraud ring.

The group is accused of defrauding 19 insurance companies by allegedly filing false claims for staged accidents, with the loss estimated at nearly $550,000. The case stems from an investigation dubbed "Operation Big Fish," in which 63 people have been charged and 27 have already pleaded guilty or no contest, according to prosecutors.

Attorney Vadim Schar, 40, was arrested Thursday without incident at his Encino home, according to Deputy District Attorney Gregory Alker. Schar is charged with 16 counts of insurance fraud and four counts of possession of illegal narcotics.

Chiropractor Arkady Pishik, 52, of Sherman Oaks, is charged with 14 counts of insurance fraud, while chiropractor Arutyun Tovanyan, 33, of Studio City, is accused of eight counts of insurance fraud.

Also expected to be arraigned in connection with the alleged fraud ring is Michael Itkin, 50, of Los Angeles. He is charged with 16 counts of insurance fraud.

All of them were also arrested Thursday, along with paralegal administrators Alex Shidlovitsky, 56, who has homes in Woodland Hills and Calabasas, and Geliya Akselrud, 67, of Los Angeles. Shidlovitsky is charged with 22 counts of insurance fraud, while Akselrud is charged with 16 counts of insurance fraud.

Shidlovitsky and Akselrud are set to appear in court Monday.

Chiropractor Dely Diaz, 37, of Lakewood, is still being sought in connection with two counts of insurance fraud, officials said.

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