Judge Sentences Man For Role in Deadly Staged Accident

According to The Eagle Tribune, Hairo Gomez was sentenced to prison for his role in a staged car accident which killed Altagarcia Arias, a 65-year-old grandmother, who was also a willing participant in the scheme.  Earlier, he pleaded guilty to “manslaughter” for his role in the staged accident in Lawrence, MA that resulted in the death of Arias.

“’I am here before you to take responsibility … I want to apologize for what I did. I am sorry,’ Gomez, 33, told Judge David Lowy before he was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison yesterday.”

Gomez, Arias and Arias’s grandson, Jacinto Maldonado, Jr. were all involved in the two-car staged crash that was intended to defraud insurance companies.  According to prosecutors, Arias was in the backseat of the 1992 Acura and died of head injuries after her grandson drove into the other vehicle driven by Gomez.

According to MA authorities, the 2003 accident was the catalyst that sparked a major probe of auto insurance fraud in Lawrence which led to more than 300 arrests and fraud-related charges. Staged accidents are not only costly to carriers, they are also very dangerous for the participants. Auto collisions produce a violent impact, even at minimal speeds, which can result, as in this case, tragic results. In many instances, people are injured and sometimes killed who may not be “willing participants.” There has been a growing epidemic of staged accidents in the United States and authorities across the country have taken notice and are cracking down.

Gomez, who is currently serving five years in New Jersey on separate drug-related convictions, will be serving his 2 ½ year sentence concurrently in New Jersey and is not eligible for parole until April 2011.  As part of the plea agreement, Gomez also faces deportation to the Dominican Republic once his sentence has been fulfilled.