Multiple family members arraigned in coordinated auto insurance fraud scheme

Sarkis Dishchyan, 47, of Pasadena, Ani Suzie Labbad, 47, of Pasadena, and Violett Lara Labbad, 44, of Pasadena, were arraigned last week on multiple counts of felony insurance fraud, for allegedly staging a vehicle accident involving their Porsche Cayenne, in order to collect nearly $39,000 in undeserved insurance payouts.

An investigation was launched after a suspected fraudulent claim referral was received by investigators at the California Department of Insurance. According to the referral, an individual allegedly admitted to unwittingly being involved in a staged collision involving the claimant, Ani Labbad and her husband Dishchyan. This individual claimed that Dishchyan, whom they know through their sibling who was formerly incarcerated with Dishchyan, reached out with an opportunity to make $5,000. Dishchyan covered the cost of airfare and hotel from Illinois to California and asked the individual to rent a vehicle from a rental car company.

An investigation revealed that once this individual arrived in California, they were riding in the rental car as a passenger while Dishchya drove and intentionally rear-ended a Porsche, causing the rental car to flip and land on its roof.

The Porsche was being driven by a person who claimed to be Ani Labbad, Dishchyan's wife. A witness at the scene claimed they saw a man crawl out of the overturned rental car and flee on foot before Pasadena Police Department arrived on scene.

Further investigation and body camera footage found that the driver of the Porsche was actually Violett Labbad, Ani Labbad's sister, who gave Pasadena police Ani's driver's license and identified herself as Ani at the scene of the collision.

According to the passenger in the rental car, they were not aware that Dishchyan was planning to rear-end the Porsche until just prior to the collision.

Cell phone data was used to confirm both Dishchyan and Violett Labbad's cell phones were in the vicinity at the time of the collision, while Ani Labbad's location was at her home address. Cell phone data also confirmed on the day of the collision, Dishchyan sent a text to Violett Labbad requesting her help that night, and additional text messages from Ani Labbad to Dishchyan stating Violett was "on her way". These texts were time-stamped minutes before the collision.

After the staged collision, Ani Labbad filed a claim with her insurance company, and with the insurance carrier for the car rental company and received $38,932.21. The third-party-administer for the car rental company then filed a claim with the individual's insurance policy due to lack of liability coverage and non-cooperation from the individual.

Dishchyan, Ani Labbad, and Violett Labbad were arraigned on Feb. 20 and pleaded not guilty. This case is being prosecuted by the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office.