Two Maryland men who once served as police officers have pleaded guilty to federal charges connected to an extensive auto insurance fraud operation. Michael Anthony Owen, Jr., 36, of Accokeek, Maryland, admitted to falsification of records, while Jaron Earl Taylor, 31, of Ft. Washington, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The guilty pleas were announced by U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland, alongside officials from the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office and the Prince George’s County Police Department.
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According to court documents, between August 2018 and February 2020, Owen and Taylor collaborated with other officers, including Candace Tyler, Conrad D’Haiti, and Davion Percy, to submit fraudulent insurance claims. They allegedly reported fake vehicle thefts and damages to secure insurance payouts, using their law enforcement credentials to lend credibility to false police reports submitted to insurers. These actions aimed to secure payments on vehicles that had depreciated below their outstanding loan balances.
In one incident, Owen and Taylor staged the theft of Taylor’s Chevrolet Tahoe, filing a fabricated report before abandoning the stripped vehicle on Maryland State Highway property near Largo. Taylor’s fraudulent claim resulted in a $38,670 payout from United Services Automobile Association (USAA). Similarly, Owen assisted D’Haiti and Percy in 2020 by staging the theft and vandalism of a Jaguar XKR to defraud Liberty Mutual Insurance. That scheme resulted in a $17,585 payout to Navy Federal Credit Union.
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Owen and Taylor also helped dispose of an Infiniti sedan to assist a co-conspirator on overseas duty. After receiving $1,000 through CashApp, they orchestrated the false theft, relocating the car to a Camp Springs parking garage and disguising it with different license plates. However, GEICO denied the resulting claim on suspicion of fraud. Owen now faces up to 20 years in federal prison, while Taylor could be sentenced to up to three years under the terms of his plea agreement. Their sentencings are scheduled for September 23, with Taylor’s at 10:30 a.m. and Owen’s at 2:30 p.m.
U.S. Attorney Hayes credited the FBI and Prince George’s County Police Department for their roles in the investigation and recognized Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Baldwin and LaShanta Harris for prosecuting the case.
Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland
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