DOJ: Las Vegas Business Owner Pleads Guilty to $90,000 Insurance Fraud Scheme

• The fraudulent insurance claims resulted in checks totaling approximately $88,611.23 being sent to the business owner.
• The scheme involved hiring a co-conspirator, using a revolver, and filing false claims for property loss and income.

A Las Vegas business owner, Erwin Lanada, admitted to orchestrating a fake armed robbery at his cell phone repair store, CPR Cellphone Repair, to fraudulently obtain insurance payouts. He hired Marco Antonio Capistran, provided him with a revolver, and staged the robbery, after which Lanada filed false insurance claims.

Lanada received checks totaling approximately $88,611.23 from his insurance company for property loss and loss of income. He pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for January 5, 2027.

• $90,000 total value of fraud scheme
• $88,611.23 insurance checks sent to Lanada
• 20 years statutory maximum penalty

• Review insurance claims involving CPR Cellphone Repair for fraudulent activity.
• Update risk assessments for claims involving staged robberies and co-conspirators like Marco Antonio Capistran.
• Monitor mail fraud typologies related to property loss and income claims in Las Vegas.

This case highlights the risk of insurance fraud schemes involving staged crimes and false claims, which can inflate premiums and undermine trust in financial systems. Compliance officers must be vigilant for typologies involving co-conspirators, fake robberies, and fraudulent documentation. The guilty plea and investigation by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department underscore the importance of robust detection and reporting mechanisms to protect insurance providers and honest business owners from deceptive exploitation.