New York Auto Insurance Fraud Ring Busted Following Two-Year Investigation December 11, 2020 An enterprise insurance fraud scheme operating in lower Westchester and the Bronx has been taken down following a nearly two-year long investigation. Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino Jr. announced the takedown of Operation Sledgehammer, in which five registered businesses and nine defendants were charged with enterprise corruption for defrauding insurance companies by enhancing motor vehicle damage and falsifying insurance claims. Additionally, three other individuals were charged on separate felony complaints with other crimes relating to this scheme. “Auto insurance theft affects every one of us,” said Scarpino in a press release issued by his office. “Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime. When false claims are made and money is stolen from insurance companies, it forces all of our insurance rates to increase and costs each of us hard-earned money.”