Key Points:
- Jaime Huiracocha was sentenced to one to three years in prison after pleading guilty to insurance fraud and conspiracy.
- Victor Murillo received two years in prison after admitting his role in the staged collision scheme.
- Prosecutors said the group deliberately caused three crashes on the Belt Parkway and Nassau Expressway in 2024.
QUEENS, N.Y. – Two Brooklyn men have been sentenced to prison for orchestrating staged car crashes on New York City highways in an insurance fraud scheme that prosecutors said deliberately placed unsuspecting motorists in collisions.
Jaime Huiracocha, 53, recruited people to participate in the crashes with promises of cash payments, while Victor Murillo, 34, drove the vehicles used to cause the collisions, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
“Staged auto collisions not only terrify the drivers who are targeted, they put other motorists at risk and ultimately lead to increased insurance costs for all New Yorkers,” Katz said. She credited dashcam footage supplied by a victim with helping investigators build the case.
Drivers Targeted on Belt Parkway and Nassau Expressway
Prosecutors said Huiracocha and Murillo conspired to stage three crashes between Aug. 24 and Oct. 16, 2024.
Murillo would drive in front of targeted motorists and suddenly hit the brakes, causing the vehicle behind him to rear-end his car, according to the investigation.
In one case, however, the targeted driver managed to stop in time. Prosecutors said Murillo then reversed into her vehicle to deliberately cause the collision.
Huiracocha allegedly followed in a separate vehicle while remaining in communication with Murillo and directing when and how the crashes should occur.
The first documented collision happened on the Belt Parkway near the Erskine Street exit. A 47-year-old Long Island woman was driving west when Murillo allegedly merged a silver Honda Civic directly in front of her and stopped, causing the collision.
Her dashcam captured Murillo leaving the Honda and getting into a red Kia that had stopped ahead of the crash, prosecutors said.
A second collision occurred Oct. 3 on the Nassau Expressway near Cross Bay Boulevard in Lindenwood. A 44-year-old New Jersey tractor-trailer driver was unable to avoid a Nissan Xterra after Murillo suddenly moved into the truck’s lane, according to prosecutors.
Murillo then left in another vehicle while a woman at the scene claimed she had been driving the Nissan, prosecutors said.
Dashcam Captures Driver Reversing Into Victim
The third crash unfolded Oct. 16 on the Belt Parkway in Rosedale near the Nassau County border.
A 31-year-old Queens woman was driving north when Murillo allegedly cut in front of her Honda Civic and abruptly stopped. She managed to brake before hitting the Civic.
Prosecutors said Murillo then reversed the Honda directly into her vehicle.
Dashcam footage captured the collision as well as a red Kia Sportage involved in the alleged getaway, according to the district attorney’s office. Murillo moved into the Honda’s passenger seat, exited from that side and entered the Kia before leaving.
Investigators said the unusual maneuver was part of a broader effort to conceal who had actually been driving. Passengers allegedly covered the rear window with a tarp or plastic bag while Murillo moved from the driver’s seat.
The occupants left behind would then claim they were injured and were directed by Huiracocha to visit specific medical clinics, prosecutors said.
Prison Sentences Handed Down in Insurance Fraud Scheme
Huiracocha pleaded guilty May 27 to third-degree insurance fraud and fifth-degree conspiracy.
Queens Supreme Court Justice Jerry Iannece sentenced him Monday to one to three years in prison on the insurance fraud charge and one year on the conspiracy count, with the sentences running concurrently.
Murillo pleaded guilty to second-degree staging of a motor vehicle accident, fourth-degree insurance fraud and fifth-degree conspiracy. He was sentenced Aug. 3 to two years in prison on the first two charges and one year on the conspiracy charge, also running concurrently.
Two other participants, Maikel Martinez and Ivon Matus-Martinez, have pleaded guilty and are expected to be sentenced next month, prosecutors said.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said staged collisions contribute to higher insurance costs while putting motorists in danger.
“If you stage crashes, try to defraud or endanger New Yorkers, you will be held accountable,” Hochul said.
The investigation involved the NYPD, Queens District Attorney’s Financial Frauds Bureau and New York State Department of Financial Services.
Huiracocha and Murillo have both pleaded guilty and received prison sentences.
Huiracocha received one to three years, while Murillo was sentenced to two years for his role in the scheme.
Prosecutors said three staged crashes were linked to the conspiracy.
The collisions occurred on the Belt Parkway and Nassau Expressway between August and October 2024.
Dashcam footage played a major role in exposing the staged collisions.
Footage captured Murillo leaving one crash and, in another incident, allegedly reversing into a motorist who had successfully stopped before hitting him.
Sources: Queens District Attorney’s Office; New York State Department of Financial Services and NYPD investigation cited by prosecutors.
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