Three charged in $39K staged crash and car insurance fraud scheme
Three individuals have been arraigned on felony charges after allegedly staging a car crash to defraud a car insurance company. Sarkis Dishchyan, Ani Suzie Labbad, and Violett Lara Labbad appeared in court on February 20, 2026, where they pleaded not guilty. The scheme involved a deliberate collision and a fraudulent claim worth nearly $39,000.
The incident began when Dishchyan reportedly offered an individual $5,000 to take part in the staged crash. This payment covered travel costs, including airfare and accommodation. On the day of the collision, Dishchyan drove a rental car and intentionally rear-ended a Porsche Cayenne, which Violett Labbad was driving while impersonating her sister, Ani Labbad.
Cell phone records later confirmed that Dishchyan and Violett Labbad were at the crash site and had communicated beforehand. The fraud came to light after the California Department of Insurance received a tip about a suspicious claim. An investigation followed, leading to charges being filed by the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office.
Ani Labbad had already filed a car insurance claim and received $38,932.21 before authorities uncovered the deception. All three defendants now face multiple counts of felony car insurance fraud.
The case will proceed through the courts after the trio's not-guilty pleas. If convicted, they could face significant penalties for their roles in the staged accident and fraudulent payout. The prosecution will rely on digital evidence and financial records to build its argument.
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