Freaky Friday: 41 Charged in Dead Deer Insurance Scam
People will literally try anything to steal from insurance companies. This Friday we decided to report one of the weirdest claims going around the industry. A Pennsylvania body shop owner thought he could get away with an elaborate car accident ruse that would place the blame on the poor helpless deer that unknowingly step in front of your vehicle when you are driving in the Northeast. This story, which has some pretty cryptic details, could place the accused in some very serious trouble with the law.
Forty-one people in Philadelphia are facing charges in what prosecutors call an elaborate insurance fraud scheme that used dead deer to fake car accidents. Ronald Galati Sr. is accused of running a $5 million scam out of his auto body shop.
District Attorney Seth Williams said Wednesday that Galati coached customers to claim they’d struck a deer rather than a car. That way, insurance companies would consider them “no fault” accidents and pay the claims without raising the customers’ premiums.
Investigators say Galati stored deer carcasses, blood and fur in the back of his shop to use as props. Also charged are Galati’s wife, son and daughter, several insurance adjusters, tow truck drivers, a city official and a police officer. Defense attorney Anthony Voci said he couldn’t comment specifically on the charges because he hadn’t seen the grand jury presentment but that his client is innocent until proven guilty.
BB Insurance Marketing is a full-service insurance agency located in South Florida that specializes in business, personal and benefits insurance. Childcare, gas stations, pest control and restaurants are just a few of the niche markets we work in. BBIMI’s insurance expertise extends all across the state, so we’ve got you covered with a quality policy you can depend on!