Multimillion-Dollar Insurance Fraud Ringleader Admits Guilt in Spokane

William Oldham Mize, identified as the leader of a sophisticated insurance fraud scheme, pled guilty in Spokane Federal Court to charges including conspiracy, tax fraud, and failure to appear. The scheme, which operated between 2013 and 2018 in Washington and Nevada, involved staging car and boat accidents and fabricating home incidents to file fraudulent insurance claims. Mize’s activities netted over $6 million, a significant portion of which he retained.

After initially appearing in court in early 2019, Mize fled and assumed a fake identity in Jacksonville, Florida. He was apprehended by U.S. Marshals in November 2023 while attempting to sell a yacht. Mize’s sentencing is scheduled for November 6 in Spokane.

The indictment revealed that Mize and his accomplices orchestrated approximately 33 staged accidents, primarily involving automobiles on remote roads. These fraudulent activities included creating false injuries and using deceptive tactics to mislead insurance companies, law enforcement, and emergency responders. The scheme also extended to staged accidents in California and Idaho, illustrating the extensive reach and complexity of Mize’s operations.