Glass Company Owner Indicted on Theft, Fraud Charges

(Phoenix, Ariz. – Jan. 31, 2008) Attorney General Terry Goddard today announced the indictment of Bruce T. Riley, 41, of Chandler on nine counts of theft, one count of fraud and one count of insurance fraud. Riley is the owner of The Glass Guys Auto Glass Company. He pleaded not guilty in Maricopa County Superior Court.

Fraud Unit investigators for the Arizona Department of Insurance found that Riley submitted hundreds of fraudulent insurance claims involving auto glass repairs and replacements to nine different insurance companies between August 2001 and July 2005. He allegedly collected more than $100,000 which he used for his personal benefit.

Riley is alleged to have billed insurers for auto glass repairs and replacements that were never done. In some instances, Riley is also accused of posing as the insured to call in fraudulent glass claims to insurance companies. He also allegedly filed claims using insurance policy information he obtained from records of prior service on insured people’s vehicles. Losses to the insurance companies exceeded $117,000.

“Insurance fraud raises the cost of insurance for all of us,” said Terry Cooper, Insurance Department Fraud Unit Chief. “There have been numerous convictions for insurance fraud involving automobile glass repairs and replacements. In many instances, victims don’t even know they had claims filed against their insurance policies after their insurance information was stolen from their vehicles by staff at car washes or mechanic shops.”

The indictment was handed down in July 2007. Riley could not be located at the time and was arrested Jan. 25 by the Chandler Police Department during a routine traffic stop. He was booked into Maricopa County Jail. Assistant Attorney General Samantha Hodapp is prosecuting this case.

To learn more about insurance fraud, visit http://www.id.state.az.us/fraud.html .