Nevada Man Sentenced to 12 Months in Federal Prison for His Role in Staged Accident Scheme

Nevada Man Sentenced to 12 Months in Federal Prison for His Role in Staged Accident Scheme

Nevada Man Sentenced to 12 Months in Federal Prison for His Role in Staged Accident Scheme

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Washington
23 October 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Las Vegas, Nevada Man Sentenced in Federal Court

Spokane – William D. Hyslop, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Matthew David Carter, age 36, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced after having pleaded guilty on April 9, 2019, to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and four counts of mail fraud. Chief United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Carter to a 12-month and one day term of imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison. Chief Judge Rice also ordered Carter to pay restitution in the amount of $50,500 and forfeiture of $50,500.

According to information disclosed during court proceedings, between June 2015, and November 2017, Carter was involved in two phony automobile accidents in Las Vegas, Nevada, that defrauded insurance companies out of $568,744. Carter played “injured victim” in one of the phony accidents and allowed his BMW to be used as the “at fault” vehicle in another.

United States Attorney Hyslop said, “Staged accident automobile insurance fraud is not a victimless crime. It affects every driver, as fraud causes insurance rates to increase. It also distracts police and medical personnel from responding to legitimate distress calls. I commend the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation and U.S. Marshals Service for their outstanding work investigating this case.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington Criminal Healthcare Fraud Investigator, with assistance from the National Insurance Crime Bureau. This case was prosecuted by George J.C. Jacobs, III, and Brian Donovan, Assistant United States Attorneys for the Eastern District of Washington.

Press Release Number: 2:18-CR-00232-TOR-17