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Westlake man gets probation for insurance fraud
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More from Conejo ValleyA 58-year-old Westlake man was sentenced Wednesday to five years of probation after he pleaded guilty in February to one felony count of insurance fraud.
Superior Court Judge John Dobroth also ordered Ronald Berlinsky to complete 300 hours of community service and pay $24,400 in restitution.
Deputy District Attorney Kevin Drescher said prosecutors wanted jail time, but Dobroth decided against it, citing Berlinsky's age, lack of criminal record and health.
Berlinsky's lawyer, Steven Levine of Santa Monica, asked the judge to put his client on three years' probation with the possibility of early release in two years if his client made good on the restitution.
Prosecutors say Berlinsky in 2003 reported to the Sheriff's Department that his 2000 Ford Expedition had been stolen. He claimed he had parked his car in front of his house the night before and when he woke up the next morning, it was gone. Later that day, he made a claim to his insurance company, Liberty Mutual.
Prosecutors said sheriff's investigators later learned the car had crossed into Mexico several days before it was reported stolen.
The vehicle was eventually found in Ensenada, Mexico, and transported back to the United States for a forensic examination.
Detectives and investigators from Liberty Mutual and the National Insurance Crime Bureau discovered the insurance fraud, authorities said.
Posted by jbh50 on June 5, 2008 at 5:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I work in this industry. Stop and think the next time you are about to call your agent and complain about your rates! Its guys like this Berlinsky character you can thank...its NOT some "greedy" insurance company.
Posted by alloyz25 on June 5, 2008 at 7:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
no, actually it's both.
Posted by Hueneme_girl29 on June 5, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
lol alloyz25
Posted by spulido805 on June 5, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Now give him a cookie he deserves it right????
Posted by hotwildflower on June 5, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen to that, John.
Posted by hotwildflower on June 5, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
jbh50...opps, I read "John"...sorry..must get coffee!
Posted by virtualpaulh on June 5, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Question, how'd they know when it crossed into Mexico?
Posted by garion246 on June 5, 2008 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You wonder how many of these fraud cases are not discovered. Do you think that this was his first time committing fraud? Probably not.
Posted by clementine on June 5, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Berlinsky --- what will the neighbors think??? Not nice!!
Posted by Ms_California on June 5, 2008 at 12:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have one word for you.... LOJACK!
Posted by JohnGC on June 6, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Probation? Surely not just probation!
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