Man Broke His Teeth With Pliers In Las Vegas Insurance Scam

A man in the United States illegally has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for involvement in an elaborate insurance fraud scam with ties to Las Vegas.

A news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Washington said Misael Reyes-Tajimaroa, 36, of Michoacan, Mexico, previously pleaded guilty to mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering in the scam.

Authorities said Reyes-Tajimaroa posed as a “phony” victim in at least 16 car accidents, boating mishaps and fake slip-and-falls with the purpose of defrauding insurance companies. Some of the scams were carried out in Las Vegas and Henderson.

The scheme yielded more than $4.7 million swindled from insurance companies.

“After one phony accident, Reyes-Tajimaroa was airlifted via helicopter to a hospital by first responders,” authorities said. “As part of the staging in another accident, Reyes-Tajimaroa used pliers to break his teeth.”