Los Angeles man who allegedly drove 2 autistic children to their deaths to collect insurance money is behind bars

Nov. 16--A man charged with driving his severely autistic children into the ocean to collect insurance money remains behind bars after a Los Angeles judge ordered him to stay put Tuesday.

Ali F. Elmezayen, 44, allegedly killed his two children, ages 8 and 13, when he drove his car off of a Los Angeles wharf. Elmezayen had purchased "several accidental death insurance policies" amounting to $6 million covering himself, his kids and his domestic partner, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Central California. The accused paid $6,000 a year to maintain that coverage, despite earning less that $30,000 a year.

Elmezayen's domestic partner, who reportedly couldn't swim, was also a passenger in the car. She was rescued by a fisherman who witnessed the crash.

Both children drowned. The deaths of Elmezayen's children paid him $260,000, according to his insurance companies.

"This case alleges a calculated and cold-hearted scheme to profit off the deaths of two helpless children," United States Attorney Nick Hanna said. "The alleged conduct shocks the conscience, and we will use every tool available to us to ensure that justice is done."

Though the alleged crime happened in April 2015, Elmezayen wasn't arrested until last week when the FBI made its move.

The case was initially not prosecuted because of "insufficient evidence," according to an NBC report that says the defendant, in addition to criminal charges, could serve 20 years in prison for each count of insurance fraud.

* Crime

___

(c)2018 New York Daily News

Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.