New Yorkers Jailed for Staged Crash Scheme
Two Brooklyn men have been sentenced to prison after admitting they helped orchestrate staged crashes on New York City highways as part of an insurance fraud scheme. The investigation, which was aided by a viral dashcam video, identified three collisions allegedly used to generate fraudulent insurance payouts totaling more than $80,000.
Prison Sentences Follow Guilty Pleas
Jaime Huiracocha, 53, was sentenced to one to three years in prison after pleading guilty to third-degree insurance fraud and fifth-degree conspiracy, according to prosecutors and court records.
Victor Murillo, 34, was sentenced to two years in prison. Both men are from Brooklyn, New York. Their attorneys did not respond to requests for comment.
Viral Dashcam Video Helped Investigators
The investigation began after dashcam footage of a staged collision on the Belt Parkway circulated widely online. The video showed Murillo driving a Honda that collided with another vehicle before moving into the front passenger seat and leaving in a red Kia that had stopped nearby.
Investigators later determined that the incident was one of three staged crashes carried out on New York City highways in 2024. Prosecutors said the participants used borrowed vehicles and recruited additional people to ride as passengers in the cars involved in the collisions.
One of the crashes targeted a woman from Massapequa, according to prosecutors. The group allegedly staged the collisions to support fraudulent insurance claims.
Additional Defendants Await Sentencing
Maikel Martinez and Ivon Matus-Martinez, who prosecutors identified as participants in the scheme, are expected to be sentenced separately. Their cases remain pending.
Authorities said staged crashes can create risks for everyone traveling on crowded highways, including commercial truck drivers and other motorists. Prosecutors also warned that participants can face significant prison sentences when fraudulent collisions result in serious injuries or fatalities.
