California regulators charged three Pasadena residents in an alleged staged auto collision involving a Porsche Cayenne and nearly $39K in insurance proceeds. Prosecutors say the scheme unraveled after a referral flagged inconsistencies in the claim file.
The California Department of Insurance opened an inquiry after receiving a tip from a participant who said he got pulled into the setup without full disclosure.
He told investigators Sarkis Dishchyan, 47, approached him with a $5,000 offer. Dishchyan paid for airfare and hotel from Illinois to California and instructed him to rent a vehicle upon arrival, according to the department.
Investigators allege the plan moved fast once he landed. The renter rode as a passenger while Dishchyan drove.
Authorities say Dishchyan intentionally rear-ended a Porsche Cayenne, causing the rental vehicle to flip and land on its roof. The Porsche driver identified herself as Ani Suzie Labbad, 47, Dishchyan’s wife.
A witness told Pasadena police he saw a man crawl from the overturned rental car and run before officers reached the scene.
Body camera footage later indicated the Porsche driver was Violett Lara Labbad, 44, Ani Labbad’s sister. Investigators say she handed officers Ani Labbad’s driver’s license and claimed her identity at the crash site.
According to the department, the rental car passenger said he did not know Dishchyan planned to strike the Porsche until moments before impact.
We think that detail will sit at the center of any defense argument, intent matters in fraud prosecutions.
Cellphone records tightened the timeline. Data placed Dishchyan and Violett Labbad near the collision scene, while Ani Labbad’s phone pinged at her home address. Investigators also cited text messages sent the day of the crash.
Dishchyan allegedly texted Violett Labbad asking for help that night. Ani Labbad messaged Dishchyan saying Violett was on her way. Timestamps show those exchanges occurred minutes before the collision, according to the department.
After the crash, Ani Labbad filed claims with her personal auto insurer and the rental company’s carrier. Authorities say insurers paid $38,932.
The rental company’s third-party administrator then pursued recovery under the passenger’s policy, citing lack of liability coverage and non-cooperation.
Prosecutors charged Dishchyan, Ani Labbad, and Violett Labbad with multiple felony counts of insurance fraud. They entered not guilty pleas at arraignment on February 20. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is handling the case.
According to Beinsure analysts, staged collisions remain a stubborn loss driver for U.S. auto carriers.
Organized schemes inflate claim severity and pressure underwriting margins, especially in metropolitan California.
Insurers track digital exhaust now, texts, geolocation, vehicle telematics. Fraud rings still try it. Sometimes sloppily.
